The
world is a violent place, and for various political,
economic, religious and other reasons, wars and conflicts
often erupt. The purpose of this web page is to
chronicle these conflicts and attempt to explain why they
occur and what may result from them. Wars are listed undert
the heading of each nation. Generally, all current
conflicts, as well as recent conflicts (those taking place
within the past ten years or so) are included.
--Algerian Civil
War—(1992-Present): After the Islamic
Salvation Front won national elections in 1992, the
military annulled the elections and the winning
party's military wing, The Islamic Salvation Army
(AIS), began a bloody rebellion. The AIS surrendered
in June 1999, but other groups continue to fight the
government.
Angola
Cabinda (Angola) Separatist
War—(1984-Present): The Front for the
Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) seeks to
separate the oil-rich enclave of Cabinda from Angola.
On September 19, 2002, the Angolan army began a major
military offensive against the Cabinda rebels.
Bangladesh
Chittagong Hill Tracts War in
Bangladesh- (1975?-Present): Peace settlements
have ended some fighting, but at least one rebel group
remains active.
Burma/Myanmar
--Burma (Myanmar) Civil
War—(1948-Present): In Earth's longest
running and perhaps most complex conflict, several
different ethnic groups attempted to secede in the
years following World War 2. Most of these groups
continue the struggle to this day, along with
political dissidents who took up arms after a 1988
coup. Some areas of northern Burma have been
controlled by Narco-guerrillas harvesting opium, which
the government has attempted to halt. Military
operations near border areas have brought both rebels
and the Burmese government into occasional conflict
with neighboring Thailand.
Burundi
--Second Congolese War--(1998-2002?)
--Burundi Civil War—(1994-Present): The
Tutsi-dominated government is fighting Hutu rebels.
The rebels use neighboring Congo as a base to launch
attacks, thereby giving the Burundi government reason
to involve itself in the Second Congolese War.
Central African Republic
(CAR)
Chad-Central African Republic Border
Conflict—(Aug. 7, 2002): The armies of Chad
and the CAR clashed in an exchange that left
approximately two dozen dead. Each side blamed the
other for initiating the attack. Tensions have been
high since an attempted coup in the CAR in November,
2002.
Chad
Chad-Central African Republic Border
Conflict—(Aug. 7, 2002): The armies of Chad
and the Central African Republic (CAR) clashed in an
exchange that left approximately two dozen dead. Each
side blamed the other for initiating the attack.
Tensions have been high since an attempted coup in the
CAR in November, 2002.
Columbia
--Colombian Civil
War—(1964-Present): Marxist Guerrillas began
a Cuban-inspired insurgency in the 1960s, which
continued at a fairly low level until the 1990s, when
the strength of the guerrilla groups increased due to
their de facto alliance with narcotics-producing crime
cartels. Since 2001 the violence of the conflict has
increased as the government realized that negotiations
with the guerrillas were not leading to a peaceful
solution. The United States is providing military and
logistical support to the government.
Congo
--Second Congolese War
—(1998-2002): Peace talks may soon end what has
been called “Africa’s World War.”
Congolese rebels, backed by Rwanda, Uganda and
Burundi, seek the overthrow of President Kabila (the
father was assassinated and his son then became
president), who is supported by rebels from the above
three countries, in addition to the armies of Angola,
Zimbabwe and Namibia. Estimates put the number of dead
in this war at over one million, mostly civilians.
Also known as the “Great Lakes War.”
Chechnya--See
Russia: Second Chechen War
Ethiopia
Oromo Rebellion in
Ethiopia—(1973-Present): Long-running
rebellion by the Oromo Liberation Front. The OLF is
currently allied to Eritrea, the Ogaden National
Liberation Front (ONLF) and with the Aideed clan in
Somalia--all of which are fighting the Ethiopian
regime. See Ethiopian-Oromo
Conflicts
Georgia
Russian Bombing of Pankisi Gorge in
Georgia—(September, 2002): Russian warplanes
bombed the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia, which borders on
Chechnya. Russia claimed that Chechen rebels used the
Gorge as a staging area for attacks on Russian forces
in Chechnya. Georgia protested the attacks.
Kashmir Conflict—(1991-Present):
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, and a
Kashmiri rebel movement is aided by Pakistan.
Intermittent clashes along the border nearly turned
into full-scale war in the summer of 1999 and in late
2001.
--Intense Clashes Along the
LOC-- (Dec. 23, 2001-Continuing): Following
the terrorist attack on India's Parliament,
tensions between India and Pakistan increased, with
machine gun, mortar and artillery fire across their
border (Line of Control) in disputed Kashmir.
--Terrorist/Rebel Attack on the Indian
Parliament in New Delhi—( Dec. 13,
2001): Kashmiri Terrorists attacked the Indian
Parliament, attempting to blow it up during a
legislative session. Security guard killed the
militants before they could enter the Parliament
building. 5 terrorists and 7 Indian security
officers and 2 Indian bystanders were killed in the
attack. This attack triggered a violent
confrontation along the Line of Control (LOC) in
Kashmir between the armies of India and Pakistan.
India blamed Pakistan for aiding the rebels
Indian Minor
Wars
--Assam Rebellion—(1980-Present):
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) formed
in April 1979 in response to an influx of
non-Assamese from Bangladesh and parts of North
East India. This movement seeks to evict those
"foreigners" and seek greater autonomy from the
Indian government.
--Bodo
Rebellion—(Mid-1980s-Present): The
National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) is
fighting for a separate state within India. They
feel that their ethnic group is persecuted by the
Assamese and Bengali groups which dominate the
region.
--Hindu-Muslim Sectarian
Violence—(1947-Present): Since
independence from Britain in 1947, Hindus and
Muslims in India have engaged in periodic outbursts
of violence against each other. The latest mob
violence in early 2002 in the state of Gujarat
claimed 800 to 1,000 lives.
--Mizo Rebellion—(Feb. 28,
1966-Present): The Mizo National Front (MNF) seeks
independence from India for the Mizoram region.
--Naga Rebellion—(1952-Present): The
Naga ethnic group sought independence from India. A
cease-fire took effect in 1997, though some Naga
groups continue to oppose the government.
--Naxalite Guerrilla War—(May 25,
1967-Present): Beginning with a peasant uprising in
the town of Naxalbari, this Marxist/Maoist
rebellion sputters on in the Indian countryside.
The guerrillas operate among the impoverished
peasants and fight both the government security
forces and the private paramilitary groups funded
by wealthy landowners. Most fighting takes place in
the states of Andhra Pradesh, Mahrashtra, Orissa
and Madhya Pradesh.
--Tripura Rebellion—(1979-Present):
Tripura, in Northeast India, is embroiled in a
separatist rebellion as several rebel groups fight
for independence.
Indonesia
Minor
Wars—A series of rebellions
against the government, along with sectarian
(religious) and ethnic violence between
Indonesia’s many ethnic and religious groups
continues to threaten the unity and perhaps the
continued survival of Indonesia. This list does not
include the recently resolved conflict in East Timor,
which resulted in that island’s independence.
--Aceh
Rebellion—(mid-1980s-Present):
--Ambon Ethnic
Violence—(1999-Present)
--Sulawesi Sectarian
Violence—(1998-Present): Violence between
Muslims and Christians on the island of Sulawesi.
Violence escalated in mid-2001, when thousands of
members of a fundamentalist Muslim militia called
Laskar Jihad arrived from the island of Java.
--West Papua
Rebellion—(1965-Present):
Iran
--Iranian Mujahadeen Khalq Guerrilla
War—(1979-Present): After the Iranian
Revolution in 1979 toppled the government of the Shah,
the Mujahadeen Khalq soon began a bloody guerrilla war
against the new Islamic government. The Mujahadeen are
currently based in Iraq and conduct cross-border raids
into Iran, as well as conducting urban guerrilla
operations in the cities and conducting political
assassinations. Iran occasionally launches raids
against Khalq bases in Iraq.
Iraq
--U.S./Coalition Invasion and
Occupation—(2003-Present):
--Civil Conflict (2004-Present): Since the
Iraqi Interim government received sovereignty from the
occupying Coalition Provisional Authority, the new
regime of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has declared war
against insurgents attempting to force out the
occupying troops and overthrow his new government.
--Kurdish Rebellion in
Iraq—(1991-2003): Following Iraq's defeat in
the Second Persian Gulf War (1990-1991), Iraq's Kurds
rebelled, seeking independence. This is the latest in
a long series of Kurdish uprisings. Kurdish forces
aided the Coalition invasion of 2003 and are currently
attempting to re-integrate their enclave into the
Iraqi nation.
--Shiite Muslim Rebellion in
Iraq--—(1991-2003): Following Iraq's defeat
in the Second Persian Gulf War (1990-1991), Iraq's
Shiites, a religious minority, rebelled against the
government. Low-level guerrilla warfare continued in
the southern marshes through the 2003 Coalition
invasion of Iraq.
Israeli
Airstrikes on Syrian Forces in
Lebanon—Part of ongoing
conflict between Israel and Syria in Lebanon.
--July 1, 2001: Israeli warplanes
struck a Syrian Army radar post and
anti-aircraft site in Lebanon in retaliation for
a Hezbollah attack on the Israel-Lebanon border
in an area called the Cheba Farms. Israel
believes Syria controls the Hezbollah and struck
the Syrians in order to "send a message."
--April 15, 2001: Israel dropped six bombs on
a Syrian Army radar post in Lebanon in
retaliation for a Hezbollah attack on the
Israel-Lebanon border. Israel believes Syria
controls the Hezbollah. Three Syrian troops died
in the attack.
Israeli
–Syrian Border
Clashes—Part of
ongoing conflict between Israel and Syria in
Lebanon.
--January 10, 2003: Israeli troops shot
and killed one Syrian soldier and captured
another in an apparent attempt by the Syrian
soldiers to infiltrate across the border into
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Approximately one hour after the initial
shooting, a Syrian outpost opened fire on
Israeli forces. Israel chose not to respond for
fear of escalating the violence. Isael later
turned over the body of the dead soldier and the
prisoner to the United Nations for transfer back
to Syria.
--July, 1991: Three Syrians, members of a
military intellegence unit, infiltrated into
Israeli-Occupied territory near Mount Hermon.
They fired an anitank weapon at an Israeli
military outpost, killing one Israeli
soldier.
Ivory Coast/Cote
d'Ivorie--needs
edit
--Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivorie) Civil
War—(Sept. 19, 2002-Present): Rebel soldiers
(who later called themselves the Patriotic Movement of
Ivory Coast (MPCI) launched a coordinated, nation-wide
attack on forces loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo.
Loyalist forces held onto the capital city of Abidjan,
but lost control of the northern cities of Bouake and
Korhogo. Initial reports had former military dictator
General Robert Guei as the leader of the coup. It was
also reported that he perished in the fighting. Ivory
Coast has seen ethnic and religious violence since
2000 between northern Muslims (such as Guei) and
southern Christians (such as President Gbagbo). The
government also claims that rebel reinforcement
entered the country from a bordering nation, most
likely Burkina Faso to the north. Tensions have
increased between the two West African nations partly
as a result of the status of millions of migrant
Burkina Faso citizens living in Ivory Coast seeking
jobs. A cease-fire began on Oct. 17, which held until
the last week of November, as government forces
launched a new offensive with recently acquired
helicopters and what appeared to be a unit of
English-speaking mercenaries. Also, a new rebel group
appeared, seizing several towns along the western
border with Liberia. This group, calling itself the
Ivorian Popular Movement for the Greater West, clashed
with French peacekeeping forces that were attempting
to evacuate Europeans from the area. This
Yacouba-based tribal group, which appears to include
some Liberians, may be connected to one of the
factions involved in the Liberian Civil War. A second
western rebel group, called the Movement for Justice
and Peace, appears loyal to the late General Guei.
Japan
--Japanese Coast Guard Sinking of
Suspected Spy Ship—(Dec. 21 and 22, 2001):
The Japanese Coast Guard chased a suspected spy ship
and sank it. Crewmembers of the spy ship fired on the
Japanese ships, wounding two Coast Guard sailors. The
spy ship crew all perished when their vessel sank.
Japan suspects the ship was North Korean.
Laos
Hmong
Insurgency in Laos—(1975-Present): The
Hmong ethnic group have fought the Communist
government since it took power following the end of
the Vietnam (2nd Indochina) War in 1975. Vietnam
provides military aid and troops to the Laotian
government periodically.
Namibia
Caprivi Uprising—(Aug. 2,
1999-2000): The Caprivi Liberation Army, led by
Namibian politician Mishake Muyongo, claims that the
government is neglecting their region. Guerrillas
attacked Namibian military and police on August 2,
1999 in the Caprivi area.
Nepal
Nepal Civil War—(Feb. 13, 1996-
Present): Maoist Guerrillas seek to overthrow the
Nepal monarchy though a rural uprising. This conflict
has grown in intensity in recent months. Chinese aid
to the rebels is alleged.
Niger
Niger Army Mutiny—( July 31-Aug.
9, 2002): Forces loyal to the government of Niger put
down an army mutiny that had spread to several army
garrisons across the country. The uprising is believed
related to low pay for army soldiers. News
link--BBC
Nigeria
Nigerian Ethnic/Religious
Conflicts—(1991-Present): Various ethnic and
religious groups in Nigeria engage in sporadic
communal violence.
Papua New
Guinea
Bougainville War of
Independence—(1989-Present): The island of
Bougainville seeks independence from Papua New Guinea.
Philippines
Muslim Rebellion in the Southern
Philippines--(1969-Present): Muslim rebel groups
seek autonomy/independence from the mostly Christian
Philippines. One rebel group, the Abu Sayaf Group, is
believed linked to Osama bin-Laden’s Al-Qaida.
This connection, plus their tactic of kidnapping and
beheading Americans, led the United States to send
Special Forces to aid the Philippine Army.
New People’s Army
Rebellion--(1969-Present): The Communist New
People’s Army (along with the rival Alex Boncayao
Brigade (ABB); is attempting to overthrow the
Philippine government and install a Marxist
regime.
Iraq War (2003-2004)--The Philippines
contributed 51 soldiers to the Coalition forces in
Iraq.
Rwanda
Rwandan Civil War—(1994-Present):
The current Rwandan government is dominated by the
Tutsi tribe, which overthrew the old government
dominated by the Hutu tribe. Before losing power, the
Hutu rulers and their militia massacred over half a
million people. The Hutus now conduct a guerrilla war
against the Tutsi government from bases in the Congo.
Rwanda used the presence of these Hutu guerrillas to
take part in both of the recent Congolese Wars.
Somalia
Somali Civil War (state of
anarchy)—(1991-Present): The Somali
government ceased to exist following the 1991
overthrow of dictator Siade Barre. Rival Somali groups
fight for advantage but the net result is anarchy. In
1992 and 1993, United Nations forces, led by the
United States, attempted to bring order to the country
and head off a famine. After incurring casualties, the
U.S. and the U.N. withdrew.
Spain
--Iraq War
(2003-2004)--Spain contributed soldiers to the
Coalition forces in Iraq. They were withdrawn from
Iraq shortly after the March 11, 2004 train bombings
in Madrid.
--Basque Separatist
Conflict—(1958-Present): The rebel group
called Basque Fatherland and Liberty guerrilla group
(ETA) has waged an urban guerrilla movement against
the Spanish government. The organization's goal is
independence for the Basque region of northern Spain
and southwestern France. Some operations have taken
place in France, causing Paris and Madrid to
cooperate. Approximately 800 deaths are attributed to
the ETA's campaign.
--Spanish Border Conflict with
Morocco--(2002)
Sri
Lanka
Sri Lankan Civil
War—(1983-Present): Sri Lanka's civil war is
due to problems between the Tamil minority and the
Sinhalese majority. In the 1980's, India intervened on
the government's side, but has since withdrawn its
troops. Over 70,000 deaths have resulted from this
war. Peace talks have been under way for some time.
Sudan
Second Sudanese Civil
War—(1983-Present): This is a war based
largely on racial, religious and regional differences.
The government is dominated by Muslim Arabs, while the
south of the country is largely black Christian.
Darfur War--(April, 2003-Present)
Turkey
Kurdish Rebellion in
Turkey—(1984-Present): Rebel groups of the
Kurdish ethnic group seek independence from Turkey.
Uganda
Ugandan Civil War
Vietnam
Hmong
Insurgency in Laos—(1975-Present):
Vietnam provides military aid and troops to the
Laotian government periodically in its conflict with
the Hmong ethnic group. The Hmong (also known as the
Meo) have fought the Communist government since it
took power following the end of the Vietnam (2nd
Indochina) War in 1975.
United Kingdom (Great
Britain)
--Northern Ireland
Conflict—(1969-Present): This is the latest
in a very long series of conflicts fought by Britain
in Ireland. Northern Ireland is a part of the United
Kingdom, with a Protestant majority loyal to London.
The Irish Catholic minority has sought to break away
and join the Irish Republic in the southern part of
the island. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) and other
groups have conducted a largely urban guerrilla
campaign since 1969. Protestant para-military groups
also wage an underground war against the Catholic
population. Peace talks have been under way for some
time. Over 2,500 deaths have occurred since1969.
Yemen
Yemen Tribal Conflict—(Dec. 19,
2001-Present): Yemeni armed forces moved against several
villages of the Abida tribe suspected of harboring
al-Qaida fugitives. 24 soldiers and 16 members of the
Adiba tribe perished. American Special Forces were in
Yemen to train the government military so that operations
such as this one against suspected terrorists could be
undertaken. No Americans are known to have taken part in
this operation. (part of America’s world wide War on
Terrorism)
Sources
and Links on Current Wars:
1. Kohn, George C.
Dictionary
of Wars.
New York: Facts On File Publications. 1986.
Historyguy.com Search
Engine
Trending on Historyguy.com
Now:
Join the
FREE Historyguy Update list. Receive regular updates
delivered right to your inbox.
.
New York: Facts On File Publications. 1986.