Examples of hot spots existing in the world today. Hot spots of foreign Europe

September 21 is the International Day of Peace and the day of general ceasefire and renunciation of violence. But today there are almost four dozen hot spots recorded in the world. Where and for what humanity is fighting today - in the material TUT.BY.

Gradation of conflicts:

Low intensity armed conflict- confrontation for religious, ethnic, political and other reasons. It is characterized by a low level of attacks and victims - less than 50 per year.

Medium-intensity armed conflict- occasional terrorist attacks and military operations using weapons. It is characterized by an average level of victims - up to 500 per year.

High intensity armed conflict- constant hostilities using conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction (with the exception of nuclear weapons); involving foreign states and coalitions. Such conflicts are often accompanied by massive and numerous terrorist attacks. It is characterized by a high level of victims - from 500 per year or more.

Europe, Russia and Transcaucasia

Conflict in Donbass

Status: regular clashes between separatists and the Ukrainian military, despite the ceasefire

Start: year 2014

Death toll: from April 2014 to August 2017 - more than 10 thousand people

The armed conflict in Donbass began in the spring of 2014. Pro-Russian activists, inspired by Russia's annexation of Crimea and dissatisfied with the new government in Kyiv, proclaimed the creation of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics. After the new Ukrainian authorities attempted to suppress protests by force in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, a full-scale armed conflict began, which has been dragging on for three years.

The situation in Donbass is not off the world agenda, as Kyiv accuses Moscow of helping the self-proclaimed republics, including through direct military intervention. The West supports these accusations, Moscow consistently denies them.

The conflict moved from the active phase to the medium-intensity phase after the launch of "" and the beginning.

But in the east of Ukraine they are still shooting, people are dying on both sides.

Caucasus and Nagorno-Karabakh

There are two other pockets of instability in the region that are classified as armed conflicts.

The war in the early 1990s between Azerbaijan and Armenia led to the formation of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (). The last time large-scale military actions were recorded here, about 200 people died on both sides. But local armed clashes in which Azerbaijanis and Armenians die.

Despite all the efforts of Russia, the situation in the Caucasus remains extremely difficult: counter-terrorism operations are constantly being carried out in Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia, Russian special services report on the liquidation of gangs and terrorist cells, but the flow of reports does not decrease.

Middle East and North Africa

The entire region was shocked in 2011 by "". From then to the present, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Egypt have been hot spots in the region. In addition, the armed confrontation in Iraq and Turkey has been going on for many years.

War in Syria

Status: constant hostilities

Start: 2011

Death toll: from March 2011 to August 2017 - from 330,000 to

After the US invasion in 2003 and the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq began a civil war and rebellion against the coalition government. And in 2014, part of the country was captured by Islamic State militants. Now a motley company is fighting the terrorists: the Iraqi army with the support of US troops, the Kurds, local Sunni tribes and Shiite militias. This summer, the largest city that was under the control of ISIS, there is currently a struggle for control of Anbar province.

Radical Islamist groups are fighting Baghdad not only on the battlefield - in Iraq constantly with numerous casualties.

Libya

Status: regular clashes between different factions

Start: 2011

Exacerbation: year 2014

Death toll: from February 2011 to August 2017 - t 15,000 to 30,000

The conflict in Libya also began with the Arab Spring. In 2011, protesters against the Gaddafi regime were supported by airstrikes by the United States and NATO. The revolution won, Muammar Gaddafi was killed by a crowd, but the conflict did not die down. In 2014, a new civil war broke out in Libya, and since then dual power has reigned in the country - in the east of the country, in the city of Tobruk, a parliament elected by the people sits, and in the west, in the capital of Tripoli, the Government of National Accord, formed with the support of the UN and Europe, is ruled by Faez. Sarraj. In addition, there is a third force - the Libyan national army, which is fighting the militants of the Islamic State and other radical groups. The situation is complicated by the civil strife of local tribes.

Yemen

Status: regular missile and air strikes, clashes between different factions

Start: year 2014

Death toll: from February 2011 to September 2017 - more than 10 thousand people

Yemen is another country whose conflict dates back to the Arab Spring in 2011. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled Yemen for 33 years, transferred his powers to the country's Vice President Abd Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi, who won early elections a year later. However, he failed to retain power in the country: in 2014, a civil war broke out between Shiite rebels (Houthis) and the Sunni government. Al-Hadi was supported by Saudi Arabia, which, together with other Sunni monarchies and with the consent of the United States, is helping with both ground operations and air strikes. Former President Saleh, who is supported by some Shiite rebels and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, also joined the fight.

The armed confrontation between the Turkish government and the fighters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, who are fighting for the creation of Kurdish autonomy within Turkey, has continued from 1984 to the present. In the last two years, the conflict has escalated: Turkish authorities accused the Kurds of several crimes, after which they carried out purges.

The Knife Intifada and Lebanon

There are several other hot spots in the region that military experts classify as low-intensity “armed conflicts.”

First of all, this is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the next escalation of which was called “”. Between 2015 and 2016, there were more than 250 attacks by Islamic radicals armed with bladed weapons against Israelis. As a result, 36 Israelis, 5 foreigners and 246 Palestinians were killed. Attacks with knives and screwdrivers have died down this year, but armed attacks continue: in July, three Arabs attacked an Israeli police officer on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Another smoldering hot spot is Lebanon. The smoldering conflict in Lebanon is at a low level of intensity only due to the authorities' emphasized neutrality regarding the civil war in Syria and the related conflict in Lebanon between Sunnis and Shiites. Lebanese Shiites and the Hezbollah group support the pro-Assad coalition, Sunnis oppose it, and radical Islamist groups oppose the Lebanese authorities. Armed clashes and terrorist attacks occur from time to time: the largest of them in recent times was the double terrorist attack in Beirut in 2015, which resulted in...

Asia and Pacific

Afghanistan

Status: constant terrorist attacks and armed clashes

Beginning of the conflict: 1978

Escalation of the conflict: year 2001

Death toll: from 2001 to August 2017 - more than 150,000 people

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, NATO and the United States military contingent entered Afghanistan. The Taliban regime was overthrown, but a military conflict began in the country: the Afghan government, with the support of NATO and US forces, is fighting the Taliban and Islamist groups associated with Al-Qaeda and IS.

Despite the fact that 13 thousand NATO and US troops still remain in Afghanistan and there are now discussions about whether to do so, terrorist activity in the country remains high: dozens of people die in the republic every month.

The smoldering Kashmir conflict and the internal problems of India and Pakistan

In 1947, two states were formed on the territory of former British India - India and Pakistan. The division took place along religious lines: provinces with a predominantly Muslim population went to Pakistan, and provinces with a Hindu majority to India. But not everywhere: despite the fact that the majority of the population of Kashmir were Muslims, this region was annexed to India.

Since then Kashmir- a disputed territory between the two countries and the cause of three Indo-Pakistani wars and several smaller military conflicts. According to various sources, over the past 70 years it has claimed about 50 thousand lives. In April 2017, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research published an annual report that identified the Kashmir conflict as one that could trigger a military conflict involving the use of nuclear weapons. Both India and Pakistan are members of the “club of nuclear powers” ​​with an arsenal of several dozen nuclear warheads.

In addition to the general conflict, each country has several hot spots with varying degrees of intensity, all of which are recognized by the international community as military conflicts.

There are three of them in Pakistan: separatist movements in the western province Balochistan, the fight against the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan group in an unrecognized state Waziristan and clashes between Pakistani security forces and various militant groups in the semi-autonomous region " Federally Administered Tribal Areas"(FATA). Radicals from these regions attack government buildings, law enforcement officers and carry out terrorist attacks.

There are four hotspots in India. In three Indian states - Assam, Nagaland and Manipur Due to religious and ethnic clashes, nationalist and separatist movements are strong and do not disdain terrorist attacks and hostage-taking.

And in 20 of the 28 Indian states there are Naxalites - Maoist militant groups who demand the creation of free self-governing zones, where they (of course!) will build the most real and correct communism. Naxalites practice attacks on officials and government troops and carry out more than half of the terrorist attacks in India. The country's authorities have officially declared the Naxalites terrorists and call them the main internal threat to the country's security.

Myanmar

Recently, the media, which usually does not pay attention to third world countries, has focused attention.

In this country, in August, the religious-ethnic conflict between the residents of the Rakhine state - Arakanese Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims - escalated. Hundreds of separatists from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ASRA) attacked 30 police strongholds, killing 15 police and military personnel. After this, the troops began an anti-terrorist operation: in just one week, the military killed 370 Rohingya separatists, and 17 local residents were also reported accidentally killed. How many people died in Myanmar in September is still unknown. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, creating a humanitarian crisis.

Southern Thailand

A number of radical Islamic organizations advocate the independence of the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat from Thailand and demand either the creation of an independent Islamic state or the inclusion of the provinces in Malaysia.

Bangkok is responding to the demands of the Islamists, supported by attacks and attacks, with counter-terrorism operations and suppression of local unrest. Over 13 years of escalating conflict, more than 6,000 people have died.

Uyghur conflict

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR, abbreviated Chinese name for Xinjiang) is located in northwestern China. It occupies a sixth of the territory of all of China, and the majority of its inhabitants are Uyghurs - a Muslim people, whose representatives are not always enthusiastic about the national policies of the country's communist leadership. In Beijing, Xinjiang is perceived as a region of “three hostile forces” - terrorism, religious extremism and separatism.

The Chinese authorities have reason for this - the active terrorist group “East Turkestan Islamic Movement,” whose goal is to create an Islamic state in China, is responsible for unrest and terrorist attacks in Xinjiang: over the past 10 years, more than 1,000 people have died in the region.

Now the conflict is characterized as sluggish, but Beijing has already been threatened with an escalation of the situation after the Chinese authorities introduced a ban on wearing beards, hijabs, and performing marriage and mourning ceremonies according to religious customs instead of secular ones. In addition, Uyghurs were urged to sell alcohol and tobacco in stores and not to publicly celebrate religious holidays.

Armed conflict in the Philippines

For more than four decades in the Philippines, the conflict has continued between Manila and armed groups of Muslim separatists in the south of the country, which traditionally advocate the creation of an independent Islamic state. The situation worsened after the position of the Islamic State in the Middle East significantly weakened: many Islamists flocked to Southeast Asia. Two major factions, Abu Sayyaf and Maute, pledged allegiance to IS and captured the city of Marawi on the Philippine island of Mindanao in May. Government troops still cannot drive the militants out of the city. Also, radical Islamists stage armed attacks not only in the south, but also.

According to the latest data, from May to September this year in the Philippines, a total of 45 civilians and 136 soldiers and police were killed as a result of terrorist actions.

North and South America

Mexico

In 2016, Mexico had the second highest death toll on the list of states where armed conflict continues, behind only Syria. The nuance is that officially there is no war on Mexican territory, but for more than ten years there has been a battle between the country’s authorities and drug cartels. The latter are still fighting among themselves, and for good reason—income from drug sales in the United States alone amounts to up to $64 billion a year. And drug cartels receive about $30 billion a year from selling drugs to Europe.

The international community calls this confrontation in Mexico an armed conflict with a high degree of intensity, and justifiably: even in the most “peaceful” year of 2014, more than 14 thousand people died, and in total since 2006, more than 106,000 people have become victims of the “drug war”.

"Northern Triangle"

Drugs come to Mexico from South America. All transit routes pass through the three countries of the Northern Triangle in Central America: Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

The Northern Triangle is one of the most violent regions in the world, where powerful transnational criminal organizations have flourished, many with ties to Mexican drug transit countries; local organized crime groups; gangs like the 18th Street Gang (M-18) and the Pandillas street gangs. All these groups and clans are constantly waging war among themselves for the redistribution of spheres of influence.

The governments of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have declared war on both organized and street crime. This decision was warmly supported in the United States, where 8.5% of the Northern Triangle population has immigrated in recent years due to high levels of violence and corruption.

The countries of the Northern Triangle are also recognized as participants in armed conflict with a high degree of intensity.

Colombia

The confrontation between the Colombian authorities and the left-wing extremist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) lasted more than 50 years. Over these years, about 220 thousand people died, about 7 million lost their homes. In 2016, an agreement was signed between the Colombian authorities and the FARC. Rebels from the National Liberation Army of Colombia (ELN) refused to join the agreement, which, together with the problem of large-scale drug trafficking, leaves the military conflict in the country at “medium intensity” status.

Africa: Sub-Saharan

IN Somalia Lawlessness has reigned for more than 20 years: neither the government, nor UN peacekeepers, nor the military intervention of neighboring countries can stop the anarchy. The radical Islamist group Al-Shabaab is active in Somalia, and the coastal areas have begun to make money from piracy.

Radical Islamists terrorize and Nigeria. Boko Haram militants control approximately 20% of the territory in the north of the country. They are fought by the Nigerian army, which is assisted by military personnel from neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Besides the jihadists, there is another conflict zone in the country in the Niger Delta. For more than 20 years, Nigerian government troops and mercenaries of oil companies, on the one hand, and ethnic groups of Ogoni, Igbo and Ijaw, on the other, have been trying to establish control over the oil-bearing areas for more than 20 years, with varying success.

In another country, the youngest of the recognized states in the world - South Sudan, — the civil war began two years after gaining independence, in 2013, and despite the presence of a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping force. Formally, it is between government troops and the rebels, but in essence it is between representatives of the dominant Dinka ethnic group (President Salva Kiir is one of them) and the Nuer tribe, from which Vice President Riek Machar comes.

Uneasy in Sudan. In the Darfur region in the west of the country, an interethnic conflict has been ongoing since 2003, resulting in an armed confrontation between the central government, the informal pro-government Arab Janjaweed armed groups and local rebel groups. According to various estimates, as a result of the Darfur conflict, from 200 to 400 thousand people died, 2.5 million people became refugees.

Armed conflict in Mali erupted between government forces, Tuaregs, various separatist groups and radical Islamists in early 2012. The starting point of events was a military coup, as a result of which the then current head of state, Amadou Toure, was overthrown. To maintain order in the country, UN peacekeepers and a French contingent are present, but despite this, there are constant hostage-takings in Mali.

In the eastern provinces Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite all the efforts of the authorities and peacekeepers, the situation has remained tense for many years. Various Islamist and Christian groups, armed formations of local tribes and gangs from neighboring states operate in the country. All of them are attracted by colossal reserves of rich minerals: gold, diamonds, copper, tin, tantalum, tungsten, more than half of the world's proven reserves of uranium. According to the UN Panel of Experts on the DRC, illegal gold mining “clearly remains the main source of funding for armed groups.”

IN Central African Republic (CAR) Muslim rebels overthrew a Christian president in 2013, sparking sectarian strife in the country. Since 2014, there has been a UN peacekeeping mission in the country.

Today, global wars are a thing of the past: even the latest studies say that in the third millennium, significantly fewer people die during armed conflicts. But despite this, the unstable situation remains in many regions, and hot spots continue to appear on the map every now and then. Here are the ten most significant armed conflicts and military crises that threaten the world right now.

Zones of military tension are indicated in red on the maps

Participants
Government troops, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), scattered Sunni groups, autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The essence of the conflict
The terrorist organization ISIS wants to build a caliphate - an Islamic theocratic state - on part of the territories of Iraq and Syria, and so far the authorities have not been able to successfully resist the militants. The Iraqi Kurds took advantage of the ISIS offensive - they unhinderedly captured several large oil-producing regions and are planning to secede from Iraq.

Current situation
The ISIS caliphate already extends from the Syrian city of Aleppo to the areas bordering Baghdad. So far, government troops have managed to recapture only a few large cities - Tikrit and Uja. The autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan has freely taken control of several large oil-producing areas and is planning to hold a referendum on independence in the near future.

Participants
Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Fatah, Gaza Strip civilians.

The essence of the conflict
Israel launched Operation Unbreakable Wall to destroy the infrastructure of the Hamas terrorist movement and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip region. The immediate cause was the increased frequency of rocket attacks on Israeli territories and the kidnapping of three Jewish teenagers.

Current situation
On July 17, the ground phase of the operation began after Hamas militants violated a five-hour truce to organize humanitarian corridors. According to the UN, by the time the temporary truce was concluded, there were already more than 200 civilian deaths. The Palestinian President's Fatah party has already stated that their people will “repel Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.”

Participants
Syrian Armed Forces, National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Syrian Kurdistan, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Islamic Front, Ahrar al-Sham, Al-Nusra Front and others.

The essence of the conflict
The war in Syria began after a brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrations that began in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring. The armed confrontation between the army of Bashar al-Assad and the moderate opposition escalated into a civil war that affected the entire country - now in Syria about 1,500 different rebel groups with a total number of 75 to 115 thousand people have joined the conflict. The most powerful armed groups are radical Islamists.

Current situation
Today, most of the country is controlled by the Syrian army, but the northern regions of Syria are captured by ISIS. Assad's forces are attacking moderate opposition forces in Aleppo, near Damascus the confrontation between ISIS terrorists and militants of the Islamic Front has intensified, and in the north of the country the Kurds are also resisting ISIS.


Participants
Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine, militias of the Donetsk People's Republic, militias of the Lugansk People's Republic, "Russian Orthodox Army", Russian volunteers and others.

The essence of the conflict
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia and the change of power in Kyiv in the South-East of Ukraine in April of this year, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics were proclaimed by pro-Russian armed forces. The Ukrainian government and newly elected President Poroshenko launched a military operation against the separatists.

Current situation
On July 17, a Malaysian airliner crashed over separatist-controlled territories. Kyiv blamed the deaths of 298 people on fighters of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic - the Ukrainian authorities are convinced that the separatists have air defense systems that were transferred to them by the Russian side. The DPR denies any involvement in the plane crash. OSCE representatives are currently working at the crash site. However, the separatists have already shot down planes before, although not at such a height and with the help of man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. To date, the armed forces of Ukraine have managed to recapture part of the territories from the separatists, in particular the city of Slavyansk.

Participants
Government troops, Boko Haram.

The essence of the conflict
Since 2002, the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram has been operating in Nigeria, which advocates the introduction of Sharia law throughout the country, while only part of the state is inhabited by Muslims. Over the past five years, Boko Haram followers have armed themselves and now regularly carry out terrorist attacks, kidnappings and mass executions. The victims of terrorists are Christians and secular Muslims. The country's leadership has failed negotiations with Boko Haram and is not yet able to suppress the group, which already controls entire regions.

Current situation
Some Nigerian states have been under a state of emergency for a year now. On July 17, the President of Nigeria asked for financial assistance from the international community: the country's army had too outdated and few weapons to fight terrorists. Since April this year, Boko Haram has been holding hostage over 250 schoolgirls who were kidnapped for ransom or sale into slavery.

Participants
Dinka Tribal Union, Nuer Tribal Union, UN Peacekeeping Forces, Uganda.

The essence of the conflict
At the height of the political crisis in December 2013, the president of South Sudan announced that his former ally and vice president had attempted to stage a military coup in the country. Mass arrests and riots began, which subsequently escalated into violent armed clashes between two tribal unions: the country’s president belongs to the Nuer, which dominates politics and the population, and the disgraced vice-president and his supporters belong to the Dinka, the second largest ethnic group in the state.

Current situation
The rebels control the main oil-producing areas - the basis of South Sudan's economy. The UN sent a peacekeeping contingent to the epicenter of the conflict to protect civilians: more than 10 thousand people were killed in the country, and 700 thousand became forced refugees. In May, the warring parties began negotiations for a truce, but the former vice president and rebel leader admitted that he could not completely control the rebels. Resolving the conflict is complicated by the presence of troops from neighboring Uganda in the country, which are on the side of the government forces of South Sudan.


Participants
More than 10 drug cartels, government troops, police, self-defense units.

The essence of the conflict
For several decades, there was hostility between drug cartels in Mexico, but the corrupt government tried not to interfere in the fight between the groups for drug traffic. That changed when newly elected President Felipe Calderon sent regular army troops into one of the states in 2006 to restore order there.
The confrontation escalated into a war between the combined police and army forces against dozens of drug cartels across the country.

Current situation
Over the years of conflict, drug cartels in Mexico have turned into real corporations - now they control and divide among themselves the market for sex services, counterfeit goods, weapons, and software. In government and media, large cartels have their own lobbyists and agents who work on public opinion. The cartel war over drug traffic has become secondary; now they are fighting among themselves for control of communications: major highways, ports, border cities. Government forces are losing in this war primarily due to widespread corruption and the massive defection of the armed forces to the side of the drug cartels. In some especially crime-prone regions, the population has formed a people's militia because they do not trust the local police.

Participants
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan.

The essence of the conflict
The tense situation in the region is maintained by Afghanistan, which has been unstable for decades, on the one hand, and Uzbekistan, which is entering into territorial disputes, on the other. The main drug traffic in the Eastern Hemisphere also passes through these countries - a powerful source of regular armed clashes between criminal groups.

Current situation
After the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the presidential elections, another crisis erupted in the country. The Taliban launched a large-scale attack on Kabul, while participants in the election race refused to recognize the results of the presidential election.
In January of this year, an armed conflict began between border services on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - each side is confident of violating the other’s border. There is still no agreement between the countries on clear demarcation of borders. Uzbekistan also presented its territorial claims to neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - the country's authorities are not satisfied with the borders that were formed as a result of the collapse of the USSR. A few weeks ago, the next stage of negotiations began to resolve the conflict, which since 2012 could at any time turn into an armed one.


Participants
China, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines.

The essence of the conflict
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the situation in the region deteriorated again - China again started talking about territorial claims to Vietnam. The disputes concern the small but strategically important Paracel Islands and the Spratly Archipelago. The conflict is exacerbated by the militarization of Japan. Tokyo decided to revise its peace constitution, begin militarization and increase its military presence in the Senkaku Archipelago, which is also claimed by the PRC.

Current situation
China has completed development of oil fields near disputed islands that have sparked protests from Vietnam. The Philippines sent its military to support Vietnam and carried out an action that angered Beijing - the troops of the two countries played a demonstrative football game in the Spratly archipelago. There are still Chinese warships a short distance from the Paracel Islands. Among other things, Hanoi claims that the Chinese have already deliberately sunk one Vietnamese fishing boat and damaged 24 others. However, at the same time, China and the Philippines oppose Japan's policy of militarization.


Participants
France, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea and other neighboring countries.

The essence of the conflict
In 2012, the Sahel region experienced its largest humanitarian crisis: the negative impact of the crisis in Mali coincided with severe food shortages. During the civil war, most Tuaregs from Libya emigrated to northern Mali. There they proclaimed the independent state of Azawad. In 2013, the Malian military accused the president of failing to deal with the separatists and staged a military coup. At the same time, France sent its troops into Mali to fight the Tuaregs and the radical Islamists who joined them from neighboring countries. The Sahel is home to the largest markets for arms, slaves, drugs on the African continent and the main hideouts for dozens of terrorist organizations.

Current situation
The UN estimates that more than 11 million people in the Sahel region are currently hungry. And in the near future this number may increase to 18 million. In Mali, clashes between government troops and the French army against Tuareg guerrilla groups and radical Islamists continue, despite the fall of the self-proclaimed state of Azawad. And this only increases the unstable situation and humanitarian crisis in the region - in 2014, the presence of terrorist groups increased in almost all Sahel countries.

Territorial disputes have always existed and will always exist. Several centuries ago, such issues were resolved exclusively by the law of the strong. It is enough to flip through a history textbook to see behind the largest wars the mercantile aspirations of countries to take possession of rich or strategically important regions.

Today, conflicts of this kind can more often be resolved through diplomatic measures, since any confrontation between just a couple of strong powers is fraught with a violation of stability in the entire region. But diplomacy doesn't always work. Look at these tiny pieces of land: the struggle for each of them could well serve as a reason for a new world war.

China and Japan

China is also defending its interests in the East China Sea: the Senkaku Islands have become a bone of contention between eternal enemies, China and Japan. In 2010, a diplomatic standoff almost escalated into a serious military crisis - all because of a Chinese fishing trawler in the region.

North Pole

Russia, Canada, Denmark and USA

Now that the Arctic ice is melting and the Northwest Passage is open to commercial, scientific and military vessels, a number of countries have laid claim to the North Pole. Russia has planted its flag on the seabed just below the Pole, Canada is about to begin mining, and Denmark has announced that Greenland's continental shelf connects to a ridge running under the Arctic Ocean. The US Geological Survey estimates oil and gas deposits at the North Pole at 22% of the world's total reserves - and, naturally, America is also taking part in this icy confrontation.

Hans Island

Denmark and Canada

Beginning in the 1980s, the Danes and Canadians fought a passive-aggressive battle over Hans Island. The conflict escalated in 2000, when the Danish fleet landed a special forces group on the island, which promptly planted the Danish flag here. Opponents waited for a response for five whole years: the Canadian flag appeared on the highest point of the island in 2005, and the operation was carried out under the cover of military boats. At the moment, both sides are taking all measures to resolve the issue exclusively through diplomatic methods.

Jammu and Kashmir

India and Pakistan

Once ruled by the British Empire, Jammu and Kashnir are now parts of India, Pakistan and China. The disputed territory turned into a strategically important point only in 1998: Pakistan began to technologically catch up with India and both countries conducted public tests of nuclear weapons here. The political situation remains extremely unstable: there is no fear of open military conflict, but tension in the region is only growing.

Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank

Palestine, Israel and Syria

The geographic areas disputed between Israelis and Palestinians are tiny pieces of land. But in these latitudes they even cling to a meter of barren desert. Blood is shed here as usual: dozens of Palestinians and Israelis die every week. The Golan Heights, among other things, is also disputed by Syria, although at the moment it has enough internal problems.

West Sahara

Morocco and Spain

The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara in northwestern Africa is in a state of political uncertainty. Spain withdrew from the area in 1976, which Morocco immediately took advantage of, annexing about 259,000 square kilometers, quite rich in natural resources. This action was not recognized internationally, which does not prevent enterprising Moroccans from continuing to extract minerals. The most recent clash occurred in 2010, with several people killed in heavy fighting between Moroccan security forces and demonstrators.

Taiwan

Taiwan and China

Perhaps the most surprising conflict on our list. The fact is that the PRC considers itself the sole successor to the Republic of China formed in 1912. The same opinion is shared by Taiwan, which is formally an administrative unit of the PRC, which in practice has never controlled this territory. The situation is complicated by political language: both countries adhere to the position “there is only one China.” International recognition of Taiwan will mean automatic non-recognition of the PRC.

Falkland Islands

Argentina and UK

The territorial dispute between England and Argentina has lasted since the times of the Spanish Empire. The first military clash occurred on April 2, 1982: a special operation allowed Argentina to seize control of the Falklands. However, Great Britain solved the problem as quickly and simply as possible - part of the country's fleet was sent to the islands with the order to return them by force. Argentina was defeated, but continues to assert its territorial claims.

Northern Kosovo

Serbia and Republic of Kosovo

Northern Kosovo is still under UN protectorate. The region remains extremely unstable: in addition to a paramilitary garrison of peacekeepers, the government of the partially recognized Republic of Kosovo operates here. None of the parties to the conflict has a real opportunity to subjugate the disputed territory - all because of the same peacekeepers.

Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands

China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and USA

Several countries are engaged in fierce disputes over the territorial ownership of a group of islands located in the South China Sea. The Paracel Islands remain the object of claims by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the Spartly Islands will not be divided among themselves by several ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and again Vietnam. At the same time, the US is seeking to protect its commercial and military interests in the area. America needs assurance that the region's routes will remain open; China, on the other hand, interprets Western pressure as illegitimate. To date, there have already been several armed conflicts involving Vietnam and Malaysia, and the situation still remains very tense.

There are currently 33 hotspots in the world where local populations suffer the most.

Eastern Congo:

The situation in Eastern Congo has been quite unstable since the Hutu militia (Interahamwe) declared war on the country's ethnic minority, the Tutsi people. Since 1994, this confrontation has led to genocide. Since then, the region has become home to a huge number of rebels, forcing more than a million Congolese to flee the country and killing several million. In 2003, the leader of the Tutsi rebellion, Laurent Nkunda, continued the battle with the Hutu (Interahamwe) and created the National Congress of People's Defense. In January 2009, Nkunda was captured by Rwandan troops. But even despite the loss of their leader, separate groups of Tutsi rebels are still causing unrest. The photo shows family members carrying the body of their relative for burial. Rebel camp in Goma, January 19, 2009.

Kashmir:

Conflicts in Kashmir have been ongoing since 1947, when Britain renounced its rights to India. As a result of the collapse, two countries were formed: Pakistan and India. The conflict is related to the division of disputed territories, and clashes still occur quite often on the border of these states, as well as in Kashmir itself, which belongs to India. For example, the unrest that broke out after the death of two unarmed Muslim teenagers. The photo shows Kashmiri Muslims throwing tear gas canisters back at the police. It was this tear gas that was used to disperse a crowd of protesters in Srinagar, February 5, 2010.

China:

A Uighur woman peers through security barriers as Chinese soldiers watch in the city of Urumqi, Xinjiang province, July 9, 2009. The Northwest Autonomous Region is home to 13 ethnic groups - the largest of which, at 45% of the population, are Uighurs. Despite the fact that the region is considered autonomous, some Uyghur representatives have been demanding recognition of full independence since the mid-90s. China's attempts to unify with this area only cause inter-ethnic tensions, coupled with religious repression and economic inequality, all of which only worsen the situation. When another Uyghur uprising broke out in Urumqi, the authorities responded immediately. As a result, 150 people died.

Iran:

Protesting the presidential election results won by Ahmadinejad in 2009, millions of Iranians took to the streets to support opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. In their opinion, it was he who should have won the elections, but the results were falsified. This uprising was given the name "Green Revolution" and is considered one of the most significant events in Iranian politics since 1979. “Color revolutions” also took place in other countries: Georgia, Ukraine and Serbia. The Iranian regime has never renounced the use of weapons to disperse protesters. In the photo, one of the rebels covers his face with his hand, wearing a symbolic green bandage, on December 27, 2009, after a clash with the Basij militia forces, reinforced by internal security fighters who joined them.

Chad:

The civil war here has been going on for five years now, with anti-government uprisings supported by neighboring Sudan. Chad has become a good refuge not only for thousands of refugees from Darfur, but also for those. Who fled from the neighboring republics of Central Africa. Pictured are Chadian soldiers resting after the Battle of Am Dam clash, which lasted two days in May 2009. As a result, Chadian troops managed to prevent the capture of the capital N'Djamena and the overthrow of power.

Eastern Chad:

Over the past 5 years, fighting in eastern Chad and neighboring Darfur, Sudan, has forced more than 400,000 people to flee into the Chadian desert and form refugee camps there. Rebels from the two countries take turns expressing dissatisfaction with each other. And caught in the crossfire are civilians, tired of senseless violence, scorched earth tactics and ethnic cleansing. Sudanese women carry branches for a fire at a refugee camp in Chad June 26, 2008.

Korea:

More than half a century after the end of the Korean War, relations between communist North Korea and democratic South Korea remain tense. So far, no peace agreement has been signed between the two countries, and the US is leaving 20,000 of its troops in the south of the country. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who succeeded his father Kim Il Sung in 1994, continues to develop Pyongyang's nuclear program, despite the fact that the United States has repeatedly tried to reduce it during negotiations. North Korea first tested a nuclear device in 2006, with a second attempt occurring in May 2009. In the photo, a North Korean army soldier stands opposite a South Korean army soldier on the border that divides the territory into two Koreas, February 19, 2009.

Pakistani North West:

Pakistan's North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are two of the most tense flashpoints in the world. Located along the border with Afghanistan, these two regions have seen some of the heaviest fighting between Islamists and Pakistani forces since 2001. It is believed that this is where al-Qaeda leaders take refuge. American planes constantly patrol the skies over these territories in search of terrorists and Taliban leaders. The photo shows a Pakistani soldier in front of a burnt oil tanker that was burned by rebels on February 1, 2010.

Pakistan:

While the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan worries the entire world community, Pakistan remains a key country in the American fight against terrorism. Under increased pressure from the US, Islamabad has more recently stepped up efforts to remove the Taliban from its borders. While Pakistani troops are enjoying some successes against the Taliban, some instability is emerging among the civilian population. Pictured June 21, 2009, Pakistani refugees at Shah Mansoor camp, Swabi, Pakistan.

Somalia:

This country, located in southeast Africa, has existed without a central government since the 1990s and has not lived peacefully for the same period. After the overthrow of the country's leader Mohamed Siad Barre in January 1992, the rebels split into several rival groups led by different dictators. The United States intervened in the conflict in 1992 with Operation Restore Hope, but in 1994 it withdrew its troops from the country several months after Black Hawk Down. The government of the Organization of Islamic Courts managed to somewhat stabilize the situation in 2006, but this rule did not last long. Fearing the spread of Islamism, the Transitional Federal Government was created in 2007. Most of the country is now under rebel control, while the Transitional Federal Government and President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the former leader of the Organization of Islamic Courts, control only certain areas. Since 1991, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than 1.5 million have become refugees. Pictured are Somali women preparing food in a refugee camp near Mogadishu, November 19, 2007.

Somalia:

Somalia is a failed state that several leaders are trying to control. A weak government resides in Mogadishu, while several powerful dictators control the country's territory. The Sharia court provides some semblance of order while radical Islamist organizations, the most powerful of which is al-Shabab, continue to seize land. In 2009, the conflict narrowed to a standoff between the central government and al-Shabab. Recently, al-Shabab publicly stated that it would follow the international jihad movement led by al-Qaida. A photo of a soldier next to the body of a rebel killed during an al-Shabab attack on government positions, December 1, 2009.

Philippines:

The Philippines is home to a 40-year conflict, the longest war in Asia. During this conflict, 40,000 people died. The confrontation began in 1969 with the formation of a communist rebel group called the New People's Army. The rebels' goal was to overthrow the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. Despite Marcos' death in 1989, attempts by international observers to resolve the conflict have failed, including a 20-year effort by Norway that collapsed in 2004. The New People's Army is known for its guerrilla warfare and for recruiting children into its ranks. It is children, according to some estimates, who make up about 40% of the rebel army. Pictured are Philippine Army soldiers at an observation tower, Luzon, October 17, 2006.

Gaza:

After controversial parliamentary elections and bloody battles against the Palestinian Authority, Hamas gained full control of the country in 2007. When Israel tightened sanctions, Hamas and other groups responded by firing homemade qassam rockets into nearby Israeli cities. In December 2008, Israel carried out a large-scale operation to destroy Hamas' military capabilities. Neither side emerged from this war unsullied; Hamas is accused of using so-called "human shields", while Israel uses white phosphorus, which kills civilians. In the photo, a Palestinian collects his belongings from the rubble of his home, destroyed by an Israeli air attack, January 5, 2009.

India:

According to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Communist Party of India (Maoist), known as the Naxalites, is “the most powerful internal force our country has ever faced.” Despite the fact that the Naxalite movement was initially a small organization of peasant opposition since 1967, over time it grew into a revolutionary and national liberation movement. The goal of this organization is to overthrow the Indian regime and the Maoist government. Over the past 10 years, the movement has quadrupled its strength and is currently active in 223 districts of the country. In the photo, supporters of the Communist Party of India protest against paid bus tours in Andhra Pradesh, January 7, 2010.

Afghanistan:

Just a few months after the US terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, American troops destroyed the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces and established a regime under the leadership of President Hamid Karzai. 8 years later, elections did not bring stability and the Taliban's actions became harsher again. In December 2009, US President Barrack Obama committed 30,000 troops to join NATO forces in Afghanistan. As a result, the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan reached 150,000 people. In the photo, an Afghan family watches US Marines, February 16, 2010.

Nigeria:

The anti-government Niger Delta Movement emerged after human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues were executed by the country's military regime in 1995. Ken Saro-Wiwa campaigned against poverty as well as pollution in the country after oil companies began their exploration. Today, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, founded in 2003, is responsible for the country's oil wealth, as well as the elimination of pollution. Photo taken in September 2008 shows members of the Niger Delta Emancipation Movement celebrating their victory over Nigerian government forces. On January 30, 2010, the Niger Delta Movement violated the unilateral ceasefire agreement that had been adopted in October. This disruption has led to renewed fears of kidnappings and attacks on oil companies.

South Ossetia:

South Ossetia is an out-of-control Georgian province located on the border with Russia. In 1988, the South Ossetian Popular Front (Adamon Nyhas) was formed, which fought for secession from Georgia and unification with Russia. Since then, military confrontation has become constant. The largest clashes occurred in 1991, 1992 and 2004. And the most recent one occurred in 2008, when Russia supported the troops of South Ossetia. South Ossetia is now believed to be under Russian control, but tensions remain high. Pictured here are Russian troops crossing mountains en route to the South Ossetian conflict, August 9, 2008.

Nepal:

Even though a 2006 peace deal ended a 10-year civil war between the Maoists and the central government, Nepal has struggled to maintain a semblance of stability even as the two ruling parties have been endlessly at loggerheads. The last outbreak of clashes was observed in Kathmandu in May 2009. Then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leader Prachanda resigned after President Ram Baran Yadav criticized the Prime Minister's decision to dismiss General Rukmagad Katawala. Pictured is a Nepali student activist supporting the Nepali Congress protest against Katawala's dismissal, May 3, 2009.

Central African Republic:

Civil war broke out in 2004 after a decade of instability. The rebels, calling themselves the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity, were the first to oppose the government of President Francois Bozizé, who took power after a coup in 2003. Although the conflict officially ended with a peace agreement on April 13, 2007, isolated incidents of violence continue. Since 2007, the European Union has maintained a contingent of peacekeepers dedicated to protecting civilians and assisting the government. Pictured here is French representative Michael Sampic talking to Abdel Karim Yacoub, a village chief in Dakhel, Central African Republic, February 12, 2009.

Burma:

The Karen, an ethnic minority, have been fighting the Burmese government since 1949 to recognize the autonomous region of Kawthoolei, which borders Thailand. This confrontation is considered one of the most protracted internal conflicts in the world. In June 2009, Burmese troops launched an offensive against Karen rebels on the Thailand-Burma border. They managed to destroy 7 rebel camps and drive the remaining 4,000 militants deep into the jungle. Pictured is a Karen National Unity soldier armed with a machine gun during celebrations of the 57th anniversary of the confrontation, January 31, 2006.

Colombia:

Since 1964, Colombia has been in a state of protracted, low-intensity civil strife. This feud involves both the country's authorities and paramilitary organizations, drug syndicates and guerrillas, for example, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army. During the conflict, hostage-taking, drug smuggling, and terrorist attacks on civilians became a common part of life in Colombia. The photo shows a Colombian drug enforcement officer holding one of the 757 bundles of dynamite that were found in Medellin on November 3, 2009 in one of the arms and ammunition caches.

Peru:

Since 1980, the Peruvian government has been trying to destroy the Maoist guerrilla organization Shining Path. The partisans seek to overthrow what they consider to be the “bourgeois” government in Lima and establish a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” Although the Shining Path was quite active in the 1980s, the government's arrest of the group's leader, Abimael Guzman, in 1992 dealt a significant blow to their activities. But after a ten-year lull, the Shining Path marked its return with a bomb explosion near the American embassy in Lima in March 2002, which occurred just a few days after the visit of American President George W. Bush. In the photo, Peruvian Interior Minister Luis Alva Castro carefully checks the condition of weapons and uniforms seized after a clash between police and Shining Path militants in Tingo Maria on November 27, 2007.

Northern Ireland:

In 1969, a secret armed force of Sinn Fein (Irish's oldest party, founded in 1905), called the Provisional Irish Republican Army, launched a brutal operation to drive British troops out of Northern Ireland, who were hoping for unification with the rest of Ireland. The conflict escalated in 1972 when Westminster announced direct rule in Ulster. More than 3,500 people were killed between 1969 and 1998, a period that became known as the “Trouble” and ended in 1998 with the “Good Friday” political settlement agreement in Northern Ireland. Rare echoes of political unrest can still be heard, as evidenced by the burned car in the photo, March 2009.

Darfur, Sudan:

Thanks to American attempts to prevent a war that many believe led to genocide, the Darfur conflict is becoming one of the world's most well-known conflicts. The reasons for the clashes are geographical: Sudan's power and resources are located in their northern capital Khartoum, while other regions are considered less important. In the early 2000s, rebels in western Darfur protested against such inequality. Darfur responded powerfully, arming the nomadic Arab "Janjaweed" militias, who looted and destroyed everything along the way to Darfur, killing an estimated 300,000 Darfuris. Now the situation has returned to normal, and UN peacekeepers have stationed their contingent there. But to this day, more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees remain in shelter camps abroad. The other 1.2 million people scattered throughout Sudan. Pictured are Sudanese refugees and peacekeepers in Chad, March 12, 2009.

South Sudan:

Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir has the dubious distinction of being the only sitting leader in the world to be charged with a war crime on March 4, 2009. The court refers to crimes committed in Darfur. But Darfur is not Bashir's only headache. South Sudan is now an autonomous, oil-rich region that battled Khartoum for two decades before a peace deal was signed in 2005 to hold a referendum in 2006 on South Sudan's full secession and the composition of the country. The elections forced both sides to rearm, and a wave of violence in the south destroyed South Sudan's chances. Pictured here are al-Bashir's supporters greeting him on March 18, 2009. He remains popular in the north.

Mexico:

Despite the fact that Mexico is now a developing country with a predominantly middle-class population, it has long struggled with drug smuggling and violence. The surge in drug-related deaths has many observers concerned about the future of this country. The number of drug-related deaths since January 2007 has reached 10,000, more than the number of American soldiers. Deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite efforts by Mexican President Felipe Calderon to crack down on drug traffickers, border cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, which serve as major drug routes, have become hotbeds of violence. The picture shows one of the drug distribution centers of Ciudad Juarez, where 18 people were killed and 5 were injured as a result of a clash between drug traffickers, August 2, 2009.

Indonesia:

Indonesia's two easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua, have been fighting an insurgency to secede since the early 1960s. With the support of the United States, an agreement was signed in 1961 that the Netherlands would cede provinces to Indonesia, but this happened without the consent of the provinces themselves. Today, a low-intensity conflict continues between rebels armed with bows and arrows and Indonesian troops. Papua Free Movement leader Kelly Kwalia was killed last year during a shootout with the Indonesian military. Pictured here are members of the Papua Free Movement speaking to the press on July 21, 2009, denying allegations that they were involved in the 2002 mine attacks.

Iraq:

On December 13, 2003, nine months into the American invasion of Iraq, soldiers captured ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein at a compound near Tikrit during Operation Red Dawn. This success was preceded by three years of civil war and chaos, during which American troops were brutally attacked by Iraqi insurgents. Although the US managed to turn the tide of the war in 2007, Iraq continued to suffer from violence and political instability. Pictured is one of the 50,000 American soldiers who remained in control of the situation in Iraq, October 25, 2009.

Yemen:

Since June 2004, the Yemeni government has been in conflict with the Shia resistance "Houthis", named after the deceased leader Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi. Some analysts consider the war to be a covert war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia, the seat of Sunni power in the region, clashes with the Yemeni government and even carries out airstrikes and attacks in border areas, while Iran, the center of Shiite power, supports the rebels. Although the Yemeni government and Houthis signed a ceasefire agreement in February 2010, it is too early to say whether this agreement will be respected. Pictured is a group of Houthis rebels driving through the Malahidh region of Yemen, near the border with Saudi Arabia, February 17, 2010.

Uzbekistan:

Uzbekistan was in a long conflict with Islamists who were trying to strengthen the Muslim population. In particular, the instability of the Uzbek authorities convinced the terrorists that they would be able to establish contact with the authorities. As recently as 2005, members of the Uzbek Interior Ministry and security forces opened fire on a crowd of Muslim protesters in Andijan. The number of those killed is estimated at 187 people (according to official figures) to 1,500 (this figure appears in the report of a former Uzbek intelligence officer). The photo shows the Uzbek embassy in London, May 17, 2005, painted with red inscriptions - the consequences of the massacre in Andijan.

Uganda:

Over the past 22 years, fanatical guerrilla Joseph Kony has led the Lord's Resistance Army through the north of the country into the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. The movement initially sought to overthrow the Ugandan government and establish a Christian theocracy. Nowadays it has descended to robbery and looting. The rebels are known for turning children into slaves and warriors; The rebel army now numbers 3,000. Ceasefire between Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army in 2006-2008. was discussed in Juba, Sudan, but all hopes of peaceful coexistence were dashed after Kony reneged on the agreement in April 2008. The photo shows a woman and her children in front of their destroyed hut in Uganda, September 24, 2007.

Thailand:

The Thai government has long had strained relations with the country's Muslim population, the majority of whom lived in the southern province of Pattani. Tensions peaked in 2004 when Islamists rebelled in Pattani, sparking a full-blown separatist uprising. Bangkok demanded that the situation in the troubled region be immediately stabilized. Meanwhile, the death toll continued to rise, with more than 3,000 civilians killed as of March 2008. Here, Thai soldiers inspect the body of a suspected rebel who was killed in a firefight on February 15, 2010. Ogaden, Ethiopia:

The Ogaden Liberation Front, a group of ethnic Somalis from Ethiopia, has been fighting for the independence of the Ogaden since 1984. This independence, in their opinion, should inevitably lead to unification with Somalia. Having failed to achieve this result, Ethiopia cracked down on the Ogaden. Some believe that the 2006 invasion of Somalia was a pre-emptive maneuver to dissuade the Somali Islamist government from going to war over Somalia even more stubbornly. The picture shows a boy tending cattle in a rural nomadic area, January 17, 2008.

It seems that today wars are a thing of the past: even the latest studies show that in the third millennium significantly fewer people die during armed conflicts. However, the unstable situation remains in many regions, and hot spots continue to appear on the map every now and then.

We have selected the ten most significant armed conflicts and military crises that threaten the world right now.

Zones of military tension are indicated in red on the maps

Iraq

Participants
Government troops, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), scattered Sunni groups, autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The essence of the conflict
The terrorist organization ISIS wants to build a caliphate - an Islamic theocratic state - on part of the territories of Iraq and Syria, and so far the authorities have not been able to successfully resist the militants. The Iraqi Kurds took advantage of the ISIS offensive - they freely captured several large oil-producing regions and are planning to secede from Iraq.

Current situation
The ISIS caliphate already extends from the Syrian city of Aleppo to the areas bordering Baghdad. So far, government troops have managed to recapture only a few large cities - Tikrit and Uja. The autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan has freely taken control of several large oil-producing areas and is planning to hold a referendum on independence in the near future.

Gaza Strip

Participants
Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Fatah, Gaza Strip civilians.

The essence of the conflict
Israel launched Operation Unbreakable Wall to destroy the infrastructure of the Hamas terrorist movement and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip region. The immediate cause was the increased frequency of rocket attacks on Israeli territories and the kidnapping of three Jewish teenagers.

Current situation
On July 17, the ground phase of the operation began after Hamas militants violated a five-hour truce to organize humanitarian corridors. According to the UN, by the time the temporary truce was concluded, there were already more than 200 civilian deaths. The Palestinian President's Fatah party has already stated that their people will “repel Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.”

Syria

Participants
Syrian Armed Forces, National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Syrian Kurdistan, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Islamic Front, Ahrar al-Sham, Al-Nusra Front and others.

The essence of the conflict
The war in Syria began after a brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrations that began in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring. The armed confrontation between the army of Bashar al-Assad and the moderate opposition escalated into a civil war that affected the entire country - now in Syria about 1,500 different rebel groups with a total number of 75 to 115 thousand people have joined the conflict. The most powerful armed groups are radical Islamists.

Current situation
Today, most of the country is controlled by the Syrian army, but the northern regions of Syria are captured by ISIS. Assad's forces are attacking moderate opposition forces in Aleppo, near Damascus the confrontation between ISIS terrorists and militants of the Islamic Front has intensified, and in the north of the country the Kurds are also resisting ISIS.

Ukraine

Participants
Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine, militias of the Donetsk People's Republic, militias of the Lugansk People's Republic, "Russian Orthodox Army", Russian volunteers and others.

The essence of the conflict
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia and the change of power in Kyiv in the South-East of Ukraine in April of this year, with the support of Moscow, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics were proclaimed by pro-Russian armed forces. The Ukrainian government and newly elected President Poroshenko launched a military operation against the separatists.

Current situation
On July 17, a Malaysian airliner crashed over separatist-controlled territories. Kyiv blamed the deaths of 223 people on the fighters of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic - the Ukrainian authorities are convinced that the separatists have air defense systems that were transferred to them by the Russian side. The DPR denies any involvement in the plane crash. OSCE representatives are currently working at the crash site. However, the separatists have already shot down planes before, although not at such a height and with the help of man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. To date, the armed forces of Ukraine have managed to recapture part of the territories from the separatists, in particular the city of Slavyansk.

Nigeria

Participants
Government troops, Boko Haram.

The essence of the conflict
Since 2002, the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram has been operating in Nigeria, which advocates the introduction of Sharia law throughout the country, while only part of the state is inhabited by Muslims. Over the past five years, Boko Haram followers have armed themselves and now regularly carry out terrorist attacks, kidnappings and mass executions. The victims of terrorists are Christians and secular Muslims. The country's leadership has failed negotiations with Boko Haram and is not yet able to suppress the group, which already controls entire regions.

Current situation
Some Nigerian states have been under a state of emergency for a year now. On July 17, the President of Nigeria asked for financial assistance from the international community: the country's army had too outdated and few weapons to fight terrorists. Since April this year, Boko Haram has been holding hostage over 250 schoolgirls who were kidnapped for ransom or sale into slavery.

South Sudan

Participants
Dinka Tribal Union, Nuer Tribal Union, UN Peacekeeping Forces, Uganda.

The essence of the conflict
At the height of the political crisis in December 2013, the president of South Sudan announced that his former ally and vice president had attempted to stage a military coup in the country. Mass arrests and riots began, which subsequently escalated into violent armed clashes between two tribal unions: the country’s president belongs to the Nuer, which dominates politics and the population, and the disgraced vice-president and his supporters belong to the Dinka, the second largest ethnic group in the state.

Current situation
The rebels control key oil-producing areas, the backbone of South Sudan's economy. The UN sent a peacekeeping contingent to the epicenter of the conflict to protect civilians: more than 10 thousand people were killed in the country, and 700 thousand became forced refugees. In May, the warring parties began negotiations for a truce, but the former vice president and rebel leader admitted that he could not completely control the rebels. Resolving the conflict is complicated by the presence of troops from neighboring Uganda in the country, which are on the side of the government forces of South Sudan.

Mexico

Participants
More than 10 drug cartels, government troops, police, self-defense units.

The essence of the conflict
For several decades, there was hostility between drug cartels in Mexico, but the corrupt government tried not to interfere in the fight between the groups for drug traffic. That changed when newly elected President Felipe Calderon sent regular army troops into one of the states in 2006 to restore order there.
The confrontation escalated into a war between the combined police and army forces against dozens of drug cartels across the country.

Current situation
Over the years of conflict, drug cartels in Mexico have turned into real corporations - now they control and divide among themselves the market for sex services, counterfeit goods, weapons, and software. In government and media, large cartels have their own lobbyists and agents who work on public opinion. The cartel war over drug traffic has become secondary; now they are fighting among themselves for control of communications: major highways, ports, border cities. Government forces are losing in this war primarily due to widespread corruption and the massive defection of the armed forces to the side of the drug cartels. In some especially crime-prone regions, the population has formed a people's militia because they do not trust the local police.

central Asia

Participants
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan.

The essence of the conflict
The tense situation in the region is maintained by Afghanistan, which has been unstable for decades, on the one hand, and Uzbekistan, which is entering into territorial disputes, on the other. The main drug traffic in the Eastern Hemisphere also passes through these countries - a powerful source of regular armed clashes between criminal groups.

Current situation
After the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the presidential elections, another crisis erupted in the country. The Taliban launched a large-scale attack on Kabul, while participants in the election race refused to recognize the results of the presidential election.
In January of this year, an armed conflict began between border services on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - each side is confident of violating the other’s border. There is still no agreement between the countries on clear demarcation of borders. Uzbekistan also presented its territorial claims to neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - the country's authorities are not satisfied with the borders that were formed as a result of the collapse of the USSR. A few weeks ago, the next stage of negotiations began to resolve the conflict, which since 2012 could at any time turn into an armed one.

China and countries of the region

Participants
China, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines.

The essence of the conflict
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the situation in the region deteriorated again - China again started talking about territorial claims to Vietnam. The disputes concern the small but strategically important Paracel Islands and the Spratly Archipelago. The conflict is exacerbated by the militarization of Japan. Tokyo decided to revise its peace constitution, begin militarization and increase its military presence in the Senkaku Archipelago, which is also claimed by the PRC.

Current situation
China has completed development of oil fields near disputed islands that have sparked protests from Vietnam. The Philippines sent its military in support of Vietnam and carried out an action that angered Beijing - the troops of the two countries played an exhibition game of football in the Spratly archipelago. There are still Chinese warships a short distance from the Paracel Islands. Among other things, Hanoi claims that the Chinese have already deliberately sunk one Vietnamese fishing boat and damaged 24 others. However, at the same time, China and the Philippines oppose Japan's policy of militarization.

Sahel region

Participants
France, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea and other neighboring countries.

The essence of the conflict
In 2012, the Sahel region experienced its largest humanitarian crisis: the negative impact of the crisis in Mali coincided with severe food shortages. During the civil war, most Tuaregs from Libya emigrated to northern Mali. There they proclaimed the independent state of Azawad. In 2013, the Malian military accused the president of failing to deal with the separatists and staged a military coup. At the same time, France sent its troops into Mali to fight the Tuaregs and the radical Islamists who joined them from neighboring countries. The Sahel is home to the largest markets for arms, slaves, drugs on the African continent and the main hideouts for dozens of terrorist organizations.

Current situation
The UN estimates that more than 11 million people in the Sahel region are currently hungry. And in the near future this number may increase to 18 million. In Mali, clashes between government troops and the French army against Tuareg guerrilla groups and radical Islamists continue, despite the fall of the self-proclaimed state of Azawad. And this only increases the instability and humanitarian crisis in the region - in 2014, the presence of terrorist groups increased in almost all countries of the Sahel.