21st
Century Wars and Conflicts
Wars and
conflicts of the 21st Century are featured on this page
in alphabetical order. This is an outgrowth of the
popular New
and Recent Conflicts
page. This shows wars and conflicts waged in the 21st
Century from 2001 to the present. Each entry shows the
name(s) of the conflict, the year it began, the
participants in the war, and any pertinent details.
Included are links to relevant History Guy pages and
external links.
Afghanistan
War (also known as: "Operation Enduring Freedom,")
(2001-Present) --United States, Afghan government vs.
Taliban and al-Qaida. The guerilla war in Afghanistan
continues on, due in part to the distraction of American
military power in the wars in Iraq. Following initial
defeat in the American-led invasion of 2001 and 2002, the
Taliban regrouped itself after being ousted from power
and once again controls large areas of
Afghanistan.
Algerian
Civil War (1991-2002)-Civil war between the Algerian
government and Islamist rebels. The war ended with a
government victory. Some of the rebels joined in the
Islamic Insurgency in the Maghreb to continue their
fight.
al-Qaida
War (also known as: "Operation Enduring Freedom,"
"Global War on Terror ") (at least 1998-Present) --United
States vs. al-Qaida network of Osama bin Laden. The
American public first became aware of al-Qaida in August
of 1998, when the terrorist group blew up two U.S.
Embassies in Africa. The U.S. soon responded with
Tomahawk Cruise Missile attacks on an al-Qaida training
camp in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical weapons
factory in Sudan. The factory turned out to not be
related to any terrorist group.
Below are
details from the 21st Century:
Terrorist
attack on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon
(September 11, 2001)--Terrorists, belonging to Osama
bin Laden's al-Qaida organization, hijacked four
United States commercial passenger planes and flew
them into the World Trade Center in New York City and
the Pentagon in Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in
Pennsylvania.
U.S.
Operations Against al-Qaida in
Somalia
(2006-Present)
Baluchistan
War (2003-Present) --Pakistan Government vs. Baluch
rebels. This is the latest in a series of rebellions by
the Baluch ethnic group in the region of Pakistan known
as Baluchistan. The Pakistanin governement is fighting
this war concurrently with the War in Waziristan (See
below).
Bangladesh
Army Mutiny of 2009
Burundi
Civil War (1994-Present) --Burundi Government vs.
Hutu rebels
Central
African Republic Army Mutiny (May 28,
2001-Present)--Central African Republic government, Libya
and rebels from Congo (Front for the Liberation of Congo)
vs. C.A.R. Army rebels. Following a failed army coup on
Monday the 28th, fighting between loyal and rebel troops
escalated. Forces from Libya, Congo and possibly Chad
entered the C.A.R. to help the government. The rebel
forces continue to operate in the border areas, provoking
clashes between the C.A.R. and Chad.
Chad
Rebellion (2005-Present) --Chadian rebels and
Sudanese-backed mercenaries attacked the Chadian capital
in an attempt to overthrow President Derby. With the aid
of French military intelligence, the rebels were beaten
back. The battle cost at least 350 lives. Most of the
Chad countryside is in rebel hands. This is related to
the ongoing Darfur War (see below)
Chechen
War
(also known as: the Second Chechen War)
(1999-Present) --Russian Government vs. Chechen
irregulars/insurgents. After the initial Russian invasion
of semi-independent Chechnya in 1999, the conflict
settled down to a classic guerilla war pitting the
Russian military and security forces against both urban
and rural-based guerilla fighters. Over the past several
years, the Chechens have taken the war to Russia's
heartland with several deadly terrorist attacks against
Russian civilian targets, the most famous such attack
being the seizure of a Moscow movie theater, which
resulted in hundreds of casualties.
Colombian
Civil War (1964-Present) --Colombian Government (with
increasing aid from the United States vs. Marxist rebels
and various narcotics cartels. A peace agreement reached
in 2016 was put to a vote of the people, and was voted
down. Negotiations between the government and the main
rebel group continue.
1st Ivorian
Civil War (2002-2007) --Ivory Coast Government vs.
(mostly) Muslim rebels. France sent several thousand
"peacekeeping" troops in the nation, but France clearly
favors the government.
2nd Ivorian
Civil War (2011) --Ivory Coast President Laurent
Gbango vs. President-Elect Alassane Ouattara. The war
ended with the arrest of Gbango. France aided the
Ouattara faction.
Darfur
War (Feb. 2003-Present) --The Sudanese region of
Darfur is in rebellion against the Sudanese government.
In response to the rebellion, the government is
sponsoring the Arab "Janjaweed" militias, who are
conducting a campaign of genocide on the civilian
population of Darfur, as well as launching attacks on
refugees in neighboring Chad. This is related to the
recent Chad Rebellion (see above)
The
Ethiopia-Somalia War—(2006-
Present): In the latest phase of the long Somali Civil
War, Ethiopia intervened in late 2006 to aid the
internationally-recognized Somali government based in the
city of Baidoa. The Transitional Government of Somalia
(TGS) is oppossed by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), an
Islamist group which seized control of the national
capital of Mogadushu earlier in 2006 from a coalition of
warlords.
Gaza
War 2008-2009
Gaza
War 2012: Operation Pillar of
Defense--Israel's
latest Gaza War against Hamas
Georgia-Russia
War (2008)--The
2008 war between Georgia and Russia which began as a war
between Georgia and the breakaway Georgian region of
South Ossetia.
Honduras
Coup of June, 2009
India-Bangladesh
Border Conflict
(April 18-April 20, 2001) India vs. Bangladesh.
--Bangladesh border troops seized a village near the
border which Bangladesh has claimed in the past. At least
18 troops were killed from both sides.
India's
Maoist Insurgency/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.
Intervention in The Gambia
(2017)-Forces from the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), entered The Gambia in order to install
the popularly elected, and internationally recognized new
President Adama Barrow in power. The former president,
Yahya Jammeh, lost the election, but is attempting to
retain power. The ECOWAS nations supplying troops to this
mission include Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. On Saturday,
January 21, Jammah announced that he would step down from
the presidency of The Gambia as the foreign troops were
ready to resume marching on the capital of Banjul.
Iranian-American
Crisis
(2019-2020)-Long-standing
hostility and proxy warfare broke out into open
hostilities with the U.S. assassination of a top Iranian
military official in Iraq, and the Iranian military
response (ballistic missile attack) on U.S. forces in
Iraq.
Iraq
War
(also known as: "Operation Iraqi Freedom," "Operation
Telic", Gulf War II, The Third Persian Gulf War)
(2003-2011) --"The Coalition of the Willing" (United
States, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Poland, Thailand,
Bulgaria) vs. Iraqi irregular forces/insurgents, Al-Qaida
in Iraq (Zarqawi's group), and various Shiite and Sunni
militias--By far the most visible, most controversial,
and most significant conflict on earth at the moment.
President Bush considers this a vital part of the overall
Global War on Terror, while many, including significant
numbers of Americans, do not agree that this is a
legitimate part of the the anti-terror campaign.
Regardless of its inclusion or not in the Global War on
Terror, the war in Iraq continues, despite the Dec. 2003
capture of Saddam Hussein.
Gulf
War II
Wars
of Iraq--History
Guy page
Iraq
Coalition Casualties
2003
Iraq war timeline - Wikipedia
CNN.com
Specials
Operation
Telic Details of British Casualties
DefendAmerica
News - Facing the Iraqi Threat
Israel-Palestinian
War
(also known as: al-Aqsa Intifada, 2nd Intifada)
(2001-2005) --Israel vs. Palestinian Authority, Hamas,
Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militias and guerilla
groups. While overall violence has subsided, Palestinian
suicide attacks still occur. as do Israeli strikes at
Palestinian targets. Both types of actions often
initiates a new cycle of attacks. Since the death of
Yasser Arafat and the successful Palestinian elections,
the prospect of a lasting peace are somewhat improved.
Israel-Syrian
Conflict (1948-Present)
--Israel vs. Syria. Israel and Syria first clashed in
1948-1949, as Syria joined other Arab nations in the
First Arab-Israeli War. Subsequent full-scale wars
between them erupted in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the
1973 Arab-Israeli War, and the 1982 Israeli Invasion of
Lebanon. In-between these major wars, the two enemies
often clash along their mutual border and also in
neighboring Lebanon, which Israel has invaded several
times, and where the Syrian military kept an
occupation/peacekeeping force from the mid 1970s to the
Spring of 2005. As the Syrian Civil War intesified, and
Iranian and Hezbollah intervention inside Syria grew,
Israel's covert and secret bombings of Syrian-government,
Iranian, and Hezbollah targets in Syria increased. By
2019 and 2020, Israel began openly attacking such
targets, claiming self-defense as Iran and Hezbollah are
active foes of Israel.
Israeli
Air Strike on Syrian Nuclear Plant (Sept.
6, 2007)—Israeli warplanes overflew northern
Syria, dropping ordnance on a (publicly) unknown
target. It was later revealed that the target was a
nuclear facility being built with North Korean aid and
assistance. This attack had precedent: In 1981, Israel
bombed an under-construction nuclear plant in Iraq, to
prevent Saddam Hussein from gaining a nuclear
weapon.
ISIS War
(2014-Present) -The Islamic State's attempt to carve
out a new Caliphate out of Syria and Iraq grew out of the
civil wars in those two Arab states. Beginning in August,
2014, the United States and other nations began an
intervention in this conflict. This war has morphed into
a regional conflict, with ISIS involved in warfare in
Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
By 2017, most of Iraqi territory was liberated from ISIS,
and by mid-2019, the last ISIS-held town in Syria was
liberated. Also in 2019, the U.S. managed to kill the
ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi. Combat and airstrikes continued
in both countries as the Coalition battled ISIS guerrilla
fighters.
Korean
Conflict (1950-Present) --North Korea vs. South Korea
and the United States. Following the well-known Korean
War of 1950-1953, cross-border incursions continued, as
did naval battles, and North Korean acts of terrorism
directed at South Korea and United States forces
stationed in the South.
Border clashes
continued between North and South Korea in 2001, 2002,
2009, and 2010. Tensions remain high also due to North
Korea's continual missile tests, and the development of a
North Korean nuclear weapon in 2006.
First
Libyan Civil War
(2011)-One of the military conflicts that arose out of
the Arab Spring of 2011, rebels in Libya overthrew the
longtime dictatorship of Colonel Muammar Khadaffy. The
rebels were aided by the United States, NATO, and several
Sunni Arab states.
Second
Libyan Civil War (2014-Present)-Following the ouster
and death of Khadaffy in 2011, various factions and
militias jockeyed for power and influence in Libya.
Foreign intervention has played a part in this war, as
Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, as well as the United States,
Britain, and France, have all participated aiding one
side or another. Beginning August 1, 2016, the U.S.
military has officially participated as the Libyan
government (the one recognized by most of the world),
battles the Islamic State (ISIS) for control of the city
of Sirte.
In 2019 and
2020, the army of General Hifter attacked the GNA-held
capital of Tripoli, sparking Turkish military
intervention in support of the GNA government.
Macedonian
Albanian Uprising (2001) --Macedonian Government vs.
ethnic Albanian rebels. The Albanian rebels sought
recognition and autonomy from the government. NATO and
U.S.-backed peace talks resolved the conflict.
Mali War
(2012-Present)-Following the fall of Libya's Muammar
Khadaffy, a large force of Tuareg mercenaries that had
formed part of his army fled Libya with extensive
weaponry, and made their way home to northern Mali.
There, they launched a major rebellion against the Mali
government. The war morphed into an Islamic insurgency,
as Islamist groups including al-Qaida in the Islamic
Maghreb, joined the Tuareg rebels. On January 11, 2013,
the French military launched Opération Serval,
intervening in the war in order to halt a successful
rebel offensive that threatened the Mali government and
forces. French, Malian, and allied African forces drove
the rebels back into the northern deserts. The United
States also was involved, supplying logistics, arms,
training, and transportation to allied forces. This
conflict is only the latest in a long history
of Tuareg rebellions in northwest
Africa.
Islamist
forces, including ISIS-allied groups, continued military
activities against Malian and French forces into
2020.
Mount Elgon
Insurgency --(2005-2008) The Sabaot Land Defence
Force militia revolted in the Mount Elgon area, Western
Kenya. The Kenyan military defeated the militia in
2008
Nepal
Civil War
(1996-2006) --Nepal Government vs. Marxist rebels. The
rebels sought to destroy the Royal Monarchy and replace
it with a Marxist/Maoist system. A comprehensive peace
agreement was reached in 2006, ending the state of
rebellion, and legitimizing the Nepalese Communist Party
as a legal political faction. The monarchy was abolished
in 2008.
Solomon
Islands Unrest (2006) Solomon Islands Government,
Australia, New Zealand vs. rioters --Following the
election of a new Prime Minister, severe rioting broke
out which drove many islanders of Chinese descent out of
the Solomons. Australia and New Zealand sent troops to
restore order. The riots began on April 18.
Sri Lankan
Civil War (1983–2009)
Syrian Civil
War and Foreign Intervention (2011-Present)--What
began as more or less peaceful protests in 2011 as a part
of the region-wide "Arab Spring," escalated into one of
the most violent wars of the 21st Century. As of 2017,
Syria is torn apart in a multi-sided conflict that pits
the Assad regime (Syrian government) and its allies
Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah against various rebel groups
including the Free Syrian Army, ISIS, al-Qaida, the Nusra
Front, and multiple Kurdish militias. The United States
and other NATO nationss (including Britain, France, and
Turkey) are supporting anti-regime rebels while also
fighting against ISIS. The U.S. supports the Kurds, but
the Turks oppose the Kurds. The Assad government has used
chemical weapons on rebels and civilians, prompting the
April, 2017 American missile strike on a Syrian air base
in retaliation. See also American-Syrian
Wars and Conflicts
page.
A
sub-conflict of the Syrian War is the military
intervention of Turkey in Syria, which has led to
Turkish-Syrian
Conflict in northern
Syria
in 2020.
Thailand
Political Unrest (2006 –Present) Thai government
vs. Protesters --Thailand's current political crisis
began in 2006 with
Thai Muslim
Rebellion (2003 – Present) Thailand vs. Muslim
Separatists --Thailand's Muslim population, located in
the south near the border with Malaysia, rebelled in
2003. A similar campaign of violence hit the south in the
1970s and 1980s.
Thai-Myanmar
(Burma) Border
Conflict
(Feb., 2001 and May, 2001) Thailand vs. Myanmar
(Burma)--Myanmar's very long civil war spilled over into
Thailand on at least two occasions in 2001.
Tuareg
Rebellion in Mali (2007-2009)-Conflict between Tuareg
Berbers in the north and the Black dominated government
of Mali.
Ukraine
Civil War/Donbass War (2014-Present)-Pro-Russian
rebels, with military aid from Russia, have seized Crimea
and large swaths of eastern Ukraine.
Waziristan
War
(2003 – Present) Pakistan vs. Taliban/al-Qaida
Insurgents--Muslim extremists allied with the Afghan
Taliban and the al-Qaida terrorist network battle
Pakistani troops in the mountainous Waziri region of
northwest Pakistan.
Yemen
War (orginally listed as Sa'dah al-Houthi Rebellion in
Yemen)
(2004-Present)-While
this war remained localized in northern Yemen for years,
and sparked a short Saudi intervention against the Shiite
Houthis, recent political upheavals in Yemen aided the
Houthi cause, enabling the rebels to occupy the capital
city in 2014. The war grew in intensity as multiple
foreign nations intervned, and Yemen became a proxy
battleground between Iran and a U.S. and Saudi-led
Coalition.