Hot spots of the modern world, the latest data is more accurate. The world is at war

(VOVworld) - Iraq has become a new hot spot in the Middle East. In just a few days, one third of the country's territory was captured by militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. This poses a great threat not only to the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki but also to neighboring countries and security in the region as a whole.

It should be noted that a huge territory in western Iraq was taken under control by Sunni formations, which mainly include militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group. This territory contains major cities in Iraq, including Mosul, the second largest city, and Tikrit, where former President Saddam Hussein was born and raised. Noteworthy is the fact that these cities are located close to Baghdad, just a few hours away by car. The capture of a number of large cities is a source of powerful inspiration for militants seeking to create the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which includes territories not only in Iraq but also in Syria.

The country is on the brink of civil war, which poses a major threat to security in the region

The world community is deeply concerned by the fact that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group includes formations that maintain close ties with the international terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, as well as Sunni formations that in the past were opponents of the Islamic State of Iraq group and Levant."

Moreover, not only Sunnis but also Kurds, who recently took control of the city of Kirkuk, which has great oil potential, are opposed to the government.

In such a situation, about a million Iraqis left their homeland. The USA, Australia and some other countries are calling on their citizens to leave Iraq immediately.

According to observers, the main reason for the destabilization of the situation in Iraq is the lack of ability of Iraqi government troops to stop the advance of militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, although government troops were armed with American modern weapons. The United States believes that if the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group takes control of other cities and provinces of Iraq, this will be fraught with dangerous consequences. The creation of a Sunni state covering both Iraqi and Syrian territory will undoubtedly have a great negative impact on the Kurdish community in Turkey, Syria and Iran, who are seeking to create their own independent state.

Make a military intervention or resolve the conflict peacefully

It should also be noted that the changes taking place in Iraq are the focus of attention, first of all, by the American administration. Following President Barack Obama's statement, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on June 16 that Washington was considering the possibility of assisting the Iraqi government in curbing militant activities. In a letter to US congressmen on June 16, President Barack Obama said he would send 275 US troops to Baghdad to provide security for US embassy staff in Iraq. Along with this, the American warship Mesa Verd entered the Persian Gulf with 550 Marines on board. Earlier, the world's largest American aircraft carrier, named after George W. Bush, was sent to this area. However, as international observers note, military intervention in Iraq is not a realistic option for the United States. Sunnis in Iraq will believe that Washington is taking a biased position in resolving the sectarian conflict in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Great Britain stated that it only advocates providing humanitarian assistance to Iraq. And if necessary, it will send counter-terrorism specialists to Baghdad. And Saudi Arabia opposes outside interference in the internal affairs of Iraq. On June 15, participants in an emergency meeting of the League of Arab States unanimously noted the importance of achieving national reconciliation between political factions in Iraq.

Cause of destabilization in Iraq predicted

Earlier, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned that the conflict in Iraq is inextricably linked to differences between political parties within the country's current interim government. US Secretary of State John Kerry also admitted that Washington's military intervention in Iraq will yield results only if the contradictions between Iraqi leaders are resolved. The American newspaper Nation Interest in one of its latest issues does not hide the fact that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki did not make efforts that meet the interests of the Sunnis. Shiites occupy a majority in the country's army.

The war in Iraq is sectarian in nature. Stopping hostilities and violence is a difficult task facing the conflicting parties in this country.

Hot spots of the world

Today it may seem that all terrible wars are a thing of the distant past. But this is not true at all. Despite the fact that, according to research, far fewer people die as a result of military actions in the 21st century than in previous centuries, hot spots flare up in different regions of our planet. Armed conflicts, military crises - humanity will probably never lay down its arms.

The hot spots of the planet are like old wounds that still cannot heal. For some time, conflicts fade away, but then flare up again and again, bringing pain and suffering to humanity. The International Crisis Group has named hotspot regions on our planet that are threatening the world right now.

Iraq

The conflict occurred between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and government forces, as well as other religious and ethnic groups in the country. Thus, ISIS terrorists announced that they were going to create an Islamic state – a caliphate – in the territories of Syria and Iraq. Of course, the current government opposed it.

However, at the moment it is not possible to resist the militants. Military hotspots are flaring up across the country, and the ISIS caliphate is expanding its borders. Today it is a huge territory from the borders of Baghdad to the Syrian city of Aleppo. The troops of the current government were able to liberate only two large cities from terrorists - Uja and Tikrit.

The Autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan took advantage of the difficult situation in the country. During ISIS offensives, the Kurds seized control of several major oil production areas. And today they announced a referendum and secession from Iraq.

Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip has been on the list of hot spots for a long time. Conflicts between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have flared up again and again for decades. The main reason is the reluctance of the parties to listen to each other's arguments.

Thus, Israel launched a military operation in order to destroy the infrastructure of underground tunnels and warehouses with stocks of Palestinian weapons in order to deprive terrorists of the opportunity to attack Israeli territory. Hamas demands the removal of the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip and the release of prisoners.

The immediate cause of the fighting that has now unfolded in the Gaza Strip was the death of three Israeli teenagers, and in response to this, the murder of a Palestinian. And on July 17, 2014, the next military action began: tanks drove in, missiles flew.

Several times during this time the parties were planning to conclude a truce, but all attempts to reach an agreement led nowhere. Shells are still exploding, people are dying, and journalists in hot spots are taking such pictures that it’s scary to watch...

Syria

The military conflict in Syria flared up after the authorities brutally suppressed opposition demonstrations that broke out under the auspices of the Arab Spring. Clashes between the government army under the command of Bashar al-Assad and the coalition of Syrian armed forces led to a real war. It affected almost the entire country: about 1,500 groups (al-Nusra Front, ISIS and others) joined the military action, more than 100 thousand citizens took up arms. Radical Islamists have become the most powerful and dangerous.

Hot spots are scattered throughout the country today. After all, Syria is under the control of a variety of terrorist gangs. Most of the country is currently controlled by government forces. The north of the state is completely captured by ISIS fighters. Although in some places the Kurds are still trying to win back territory. Not far from the capital, militants from an organized group called the Islamic Front have become more active. And in the city of Aleppo, there are skirmishes between Assad’s military forces and the moderate opposition.

South Sudan

The country is divided into two opposing tribal unions - the Nuer and the Dinka. The Nuer are the predominant population of the state, including the current president. The Dinka are the second largest people in South Sudan.

The conflict erupted after the President of Sudan announced to the public that his assistant, the Vice President, was trying to provoke a coup in the country. Immediately after his speech, mass unrest, protests and numerous arrests began in the country. Complete devastation and disorganization resulted in a real military conflict.

Today, the oil-producing areas of the country are hot spots. They are under the rule of rebels led by a disgraced vice president. This had a negative impact on the economic component of Sudan. The civilian population of the country also suffered greatly: more than ten thousand victims, about seven hundred thousand were forced to become refugees. In order to somehow resolve this conflict, the UN sent its peacekeeping contingent to South Sudan, which was supposed to serve as protection for the civilian population.

In the spring of 2014, militant alliances tried to come to some kind of compromise. However, the rebel leader openly admitted that he had long ago lost power over the rebels. In addition, peace negotiations were prevented by Ugandan troops acting on the side of the Sudanese president.

Nigeria

A terrorist Islamic organization called Boko Haram has been operating in the country since 2002. The main goal they pursue is the establishment of Sharia law throughout Nigeria. However, both the authorities and the majority of citizens are against this “proposal”, since Muslims do not constitute the majority in the country.

Since its founding, the group has significantly expanded its influence, armed itself well and began to openly kill Christians, as well as those Muslims who are loyal to them. Terrorists carry out terrorist attacks and publicly execute people every day. In addition, they periodically take hostages. Thus, in April 2014, more than two hundred schoolgirls were captured by Islamists. They hold them for ransom, as well as prostitution and sale into slavery.

The government of the country has repeatedly tried to come to an agreement with the terrorists, but no negotiations have worked out. Today, entire regions of the country are under the control of the group. And the authorities are unable to cope with the current situation. The President of Nigeria has requested financial assistance from the international community in order to increase the combat effectiveness of the country's army, which is currently losing to extremists.

Sahel region

The crisis began back in 2012, when, due to the hostilities taking place in Libya, Tuaregs poured into Mali en masse. In the northern part of the country they formed a state called Azawad. However, less than a year later, a military coup broke out in the self-proclaimed power. Taking advantage of the situation, France sent its troops into Mali to help fight the Tuaregs and radical Islamists who control the area. In general, today the Sahel has become a stronghold of the slave trade, drug trafficking, arms sales and prostitution.

Military strife eventually led to widespread famine. According to the UN, more than eleven million people in the region are without food, and if the situation is not resolved, then by the end of 2014 this figure will increase by another seven million. However, no changes for the better are expected yet: throughout Mali, hostilities between the government, the French, the Tuaregs and terrorists are in full swing. And this despite the fact that the state of Azawad no longer exists.

Mexico

In Mexico, there has been a constant confrontation between local drug cartels for decades. The authorities never touched them, as they were completely corrupt. And this was no secret to anyone. However, when Felipe Calderon was elected president of the country in 2006, everything changed. The new head of the country decided to change the existing situation once and for all and sent the army to one of the states to deal with crime and restore law and order. This didn't lead to anything good. The confrontation between government soldiers and bandits ended in a war in which the entire country eventually found itself.

In the eight years since the conflict began, drug cartels have gained power, authority and significantly expanded their borders. If previously they fought among themselves over the quantity and quality of drug products, today they argue over highways, ports and coastal cities. The markets for weapons, prostitution, and counterfeit products were under the control of the mafia. Government troops are clearly losing in this fight. And the reason for this is corruption. It gets to the point that many military personnel simply go over to the side of the drug cartels. In some regions of the country, local residents also spoke out against the mafia: they organized people's militias. By this, people want to show that they absolutely do not trust either the authorities or the local police.

Hot spots of Central Asia

Tension in the region is created by Afghanistan, where wars have not subsided for many decades, as well as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which have become involved in territorial disputes with each other. Another reason for constant conflicts in the region is the main drug trafficking in the Eastern Hemisphere. Because of him, local criminal gangs constantly clash.

It seemed that after the Americans removed their military from Afghanistan, calm had finally come to the country. However, it did not last long. After the presidential elections, a lot of dissatisfied people appeared who refused to recognize the vote as legitimate. Taking advantage of the situation in the country, the terrorist organization Taliban began to capture the capital of Afghanistan.

In the winter of 2014, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan became involved in territorial disputes, which was accompanied by military operations in the border areas. Tajikistan stated that Kyrgyzstan had violated existing borders. In turn, the Kyrgyz government accused them of the same thing. Since the collapse of the USSR, conflicts have periodically arisen between these countries over the existing designation of borders, but there is still no clear division. Uzbekistan also intervened in the dispute, presenting its own claims. The question is still the same: the country’s authorities do not agree with the borders that were formed after the collapse of the USSR. The states have already tried more than once to somehow resolve the situation, but they have not come to an agreement or a concrete solution to the issue. At the moment, the atmosphere in the region is extremely tense and could result in military action at any moment.

China and countries of the region

Today the Paracel Islands are the hot spots of the planet. The conflict began with the fact that the Chinese suspended the development of oil wells near the archipelago. This did not please Vietnam and the Philippines, which sent their troops to Hanoi. To show the Chinese their attitude to the current situation, the military of both countries played an exhibition football match on the territory of the Spratly archipelago. This angered Beijing: Chinese warships appeared near the disputed islands. There were no military actions on the part of Beijing. However, Vietnam claims that Chinese-flagged warships have already sunk more than one fishing boat. Mutual reproaches and accusations can at any moment lead to missiles flying.

Hot spots of Ukraine

The crisis in Ukraine began in November 2013. After the Crimean peninsula became part of the Russian Federation in March, it intensified. Pro-Russian activists, dissatisfied with the situation in the state, formed the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the East of Ukraine. The government, led by new President Poroshenko, sent the army against the separatists. The fighting took place on the territory of Donbass (map of hot spots below).

In the summer of 2014, an airliner from Malaysia crashed over the territory of Donbass, controlled by the separatists. 298 people died. The Ukrainian government declared DPR and LPR militants guilty of this tragedy, as well as the Russian side, which allegedly supplied the rebels with weapons and air defense systems with which the airliner was shot down. However, the DPR and LPR denied involvement in the disaster. Russia also stated that it has nothing to do with the conflict within Ukraine and the death of the airliner.

On September 5, the Minsk Armistice Agreement was signed, as a result of which active hostilities in the country ceased. However, in some areas (for example, Donetsk airport), shelling and explosions continue to this day.

Hot spots in Russia

Today, there are no military operations taking place on the territory of the Russian Federation, and there are no hot spots. However, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, conflicts have broken out more than once on the territory of our country. Thus, the hottest spots in Russia this decade are, undoubtedly, Chechnya, the North Caucasus and South Ossetia.

Until 2009, Chechnya was a constant site of fighting: first the First Chechen War (from 1994 to 1996), then the Second Chechen War (from 1999 to 2009). In August 2008, the Georgian-Ossetian conflict occurred, in which Russian troops also took part. The fighting began on August 8, and five days later ended with the signing of a peace treaty.

Today, a Russian soldier has two ways to get to hot spots: the army and contract service. According to changes made to the Regulations regulating the procedure for military service, conscripts can be sent to hot spots after four months of training (previously this period was six months).

Under a contract, you can get to a hot spot by concluding an appropriate agreement with the country. This agreement is drawn up only on a voluntary basis and for a specific period that the citizen is obliged to serve. Contract service attracts many people because it can make a lot of money. Amounts vary depending on regions. For example, in Kosovo they pay from 36 thousand per month, and in Tajikistan - much less. Big money could be earned for taking risks in Chechnya.

Before signing a contract, volunteers must undergo a rigorous selection process: starting with computer testing on the Ministry of Defense website and ending with a full examination of their health, psyche, personal data check, law-abidingness and loyalty.

Based on materials: Av. Niki Martsinkevich

Are there any hot spots in Russia today? This is a question that both experts and ordinary people clearly find it difficult to answer. Strictly speaking, if by hot spot we mean an armed conflict that has arisen between countries or individual social groups within a country, then today there are no such hot spots on Russian territory. However, many conflicts in which Russia's interests are affected exist in the world.

In some, Russia is directly involved (the conflict in Syria), in others – indirectly (south-eastern Ukraine). If you look at the situation from this angle, then there are hot spots to which the Russian Federation is related. No one will now argue that Afghanistan was once a hot spot in the USSR. Syria, Donbass, and the “smoldering” Caucasus are related to today’s Russia, whether we like it or not.

Ukraine

Of course, this does not change anything in our attitude towards you.

If a big disaster happens, we will again go to die for you in millions.

We're just really different.

And you, sister, are our eternal humility before God.

The wound is not healing.

Ivan Okhlobystin. “Thank you, Ukraine!”

After the coup of 21014, the return of Crimea by Russia, the most painful hot spot for a large part of Russians became Novorossiya: the Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics. There is no need to talk about Russia’s geopolitical interests in relation to Ukraine: Russians and Ukrainians are essentially one people. It is difficult to find a resident of Russia who does not have relatives, friends or classmates living in Ukraine. The historical past, common culture, similarity of language and civilizational identity have been shaken in just two decades. The incessant propaganda and brainwashing of the fraternal people, the inculcation of hatred towards Russia, was quite obviously carried out by interested parties as preparation for striking Russia.

Western analysts and strategists, unable to understand the phenomenon of the Slavic spirit, its irrational ability to remain undefeated in any, even the most terrible war, decided to break the Slavs with the Slavs, pitting one against the other... A diabolical, sophisticated method that, unfortunately, brings its fruits. The result is tens of thousands of deaths, mostly among civilians, and a protracted, hopeless conflict. According to American experts, the massacre in Ukraine could last for many decades. According to Putin's official statement, there are no regular Russian troops in Ukraine. On the diplomatic front there are endless battles, and in the southeast there are real battles. People are dying. Is it a hot spot? It doesn't get any hotter.

In light of recent events, it becomes clear that Western analysts are not so wrong. Putin didn’t even want to go to the last meeting in the Normandy format. The situation in Donbass has been hanging in an unchanged state for more than a year and a half, and Petro Poroshenko’s latest statements do not inspire any hope for the advancement of the political process. The situation on the front line has worsened in recent days; as a result of the terrorist attack, one of the most famous militia commanders, Arseny Pavlov, better known by his call sign Motorola, was killed. The meeting, which did take place, did not bring any serious results. The organizers were more interested in the situation in Syria, around the city of Aleppo.

Syria

You need to defeat the enemy before the battle.

From hand-to-hand combat instruction for Russian special forces.

If everything is more or less clear with Ukraine, then the participation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria came as a complete surprise to the whole world. It’s hard to forget the Russian president’s phrase at the UN General Assembly in 2015: “Do you even understand what you’ve done?” We are talking about the consequences of the intervention of Western countries led by the United States in the affairs of Iraq and Libya. As a result of the support of the armed opposition in the Middle East, various terrorist organizations have flourished, the most famous of which is the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), banned in Russia and many other countries.

Russia sees this as a threat to itself. The development of a model of intervention in the affairs of other countries will ultimately create the preconditions for applying this model to the affairs of the Russian Federation. In addition, the terrorist threat is not something ephemeral for Russia. We all remember the terrible days in Beslan, Budennovsk, Pervomaisk, we remember Nord-Ost and many other tragic events in our country. Therefore, the decision to provide the official authorities of the SAR with military assistance in the fight against ISIS can be considered a preventive measure to maintain security in the Russian Federation.

Terrorism in the world is becoming deadlier: over the past year, the number of victims of terrorist attacks was 30% higher than the average for the previous five years.

According to research firm Maplecroft, 18,668 thousand people were killed in terrorist attacks last year, and the average over the past five years is 14,433 thousand.

At the same time, the number of terrorist attacks itself decreased to 9,471 thousand compared to the average of 10,468 thousand.

“It is significant that terrorist methods have become more lethal over the past year,” the study notes.

And all this affects the lives of citizens of different countries, the state of infrastructure, and also causes very serious economic damage.

Maplecroft names 12 countries at extremely high risk, which is the result of high levels of instability and weak governance.

Terrorism hot spots

The government in Baghdad is unable to fight the militant group and has already lost control of many key cities and areas in the north and center of the country.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia follow, but Nigeria, which ranks fifth according to Maplecroft, has the worst terrorist attacks.

Africa's fastest-growing economy faced a huge number of terrorist attacks in 2013. Their number reached 146, and the number of deaths was 3,477 thousand.

Economic consequences

Libya's oil production has been declining following several attacks in the past year. This in turn increases terrorist risks in Egypt, whose tourism sector is already suffering from recent turmoil.

This sector accounts for 11% of the country's GDP, and the decline in the first quarter of this year in annual terms amounted to 43%.

It's a similar story in Kenya, which ranks 12th on Maplecroft's list. Following the shopping mall attack, the tourism sector faces a significant decline, accounting for 12% of the country's economy.

However, Kenya successfully floated $2 billion in Eurobonds, highlighting investor interest.

The report also highlights the rapid rise in terrorist attacks in China. In 2014, their number reached 76, compared to 16 in the first six months of 2013. However, their economic impact is still very small.

In the past, Overseas Europe was a region of constant conflicts between countries. In the modern world, the situation has improved somewhat, but nevertheless, hot spots in Europe still exist. So, what are the hot spots in Overseas Europe today?

Great Britain

The main problem in this country is the dispute over Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has been going on for several hundred years. Since the 18th century, Scotland has been considered one of the regions of Great Britain. At the same time, a popular movement for independence was formed. In 1997, its own parliament was created. But it is still ruled by London and the conflict associated with the struggle for independence still continues in the country.

The situation is even worse between England and Northern Ireland. The problem lies in national and religious differences. War outbreaks periodically occur here as the Irish try to achieve their independence.

Fig.1. Ireland is one of the hottest spots in Europe.

Spain

The main hot spot here is the “Basque country” – Catalonia. Until the end of the 19th century, this large territory remained independent, then it was annexed by Spain. Nationalists are now seeking the creation of a separate independent state. They have an armed force called ETA, which means Euskadi and freedom.

Euskadi is the self-name of the Basques.

Fig.2. The Basques claim independence from Spain.

Belgium

This country is the most striking example of interethnic conflict. It is due to the fact that the country is actually inhabited by two peoples:

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• the Flemings live in the north of the country;
• the south is inhabited by the Walloons.

Due to the different economic development of these provinces, both peoples want to divide the country into two independent states. Today, Belgium is a federal state with two officially sanctioned languages ​​- Flemish and French.

However, since 2008, there has been an escalation of the conflict again, threatening to divide the country into three parts.

Thus, hot spots on the map of Foreign Europe are located throughout its territory.

Fig.3. Hot spots are located throughout the map of Foreign Europe.

What have we learned?

Foreign Europe, despite the high level of economic, social and cultural development, has a number of territories called hot spots. The conflicts here are mainly related to the struggle for independence and interethnic relations.

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