Military points on the political map of the world. The world is at war
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. Apparat has 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, " Islamic State Iraq and the Levant" (ISIS), disparate 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.
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, 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.
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 financial assistance from the international community: the country's army has 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 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.
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, 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 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.
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. Clashes between government troops continue in Mali French army against Tuareg guerrilla groups and radical Islamists, 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.
(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.
| Shiites in Iraq. Photo: Reuters |
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, main reason destabilizing 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 impact negative impact on the Kurdish community in Turkey, Syria and Iran, 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.
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 company Maplecroft, 18,668 thousand people died as a result of 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 deadly over Last year", the study notes.
And all this affects the lives of citizens different countries, the state of the infrastructure, and also causes very serious economic damage.
Maplecroft names 12 countries with extremely high degree risk that results high level instability and weak governance.
Terrorism hot spots
Topping the list is Iraq, which has seen three times as many terrorist attacks as Pakistan, which has the second-highest number of terrorist attacks.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, Kenya and Egypt are among the few countries to see significant increases in risk," said Jordan Perry, chief risk analyst at Maplecroft. "Key industries, including tourism and oil and gas, have been significantly impacted."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. After the terrorist attack in mall The tourism sector is facing 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.
War between people has been going on since very ancient times. I suggest learning about some hot spots over the past few years.
Eastern Congo. Since the people's militia declared war on the country's ethnic minority, the situation in the country has become very unstable. Since 1994, more than a million Congolese have fled the country as a huge insurgency has formed in the country. Several million Congolese who did not leave were killed. Later in 2003, the National Congress of People's Defense was created, headed by Laurent Nkunda. In 2009, it was captured by Rwandan troops, but the unrest in the country never stopped. The photo was taken in a rebel camp in Goma. People carry their dead relative in a coffin.
Kashmir. When Great Britain renounced its rights to India in 1947, conflicts began in Kashmir that continue to this day. As a result of the collapse, two countries emerged: Pakistan and India. The photo was taken in Srinagar when tear gas was used to disperse the crowd.
China. In the photo, Chinese soldiers look outside the city of Urumqi, Xinjiang province. Uyghurs make up 45% of the population of the Northwestern Autonomous Region. Since the 90s, the Uighurs have been demanding independence, despite the fact that the region is considered autonomous. During the next Uighur uprising in Urumqi, 150 people died.
Iran. In 2009, an uprising arose in this country, which was called the Green Revolution. It is considered the most significant since 1979. It appeared after the elections, when Ahmadinejad won the presidency. Immediately after the elections, millions of local residents took to the streets in support of Mousavi. Iran has always used weapons to disperse protesters.
Chad. The civil war has been going on here since 2005. Chad has become an excellent refuge for refugees from Darfur and neighboring Central African republics. The photo shows Chadian soldiers.
Eastern Chad. About 500,000 people had to flee to the deserts of Chad and remain there as refugees, creating their own camps. Due to the fact that the two countries are in conflict, a huge number of people are dying. The photo shows women from a refugee camp carrying branches for a fire.
North Korea and South Korea, remain very tense. In the south of the country, the United States left about 20,000 of its soldiers, because a peace treaty has not yet been signed between these two countries, but this issue is constantly open. The North Korean leader continues to develop Pyongyang's nuclear program, even after the United States tried several times to stop it during negotiations. North Korea first tested its nuclear weapons in 2006, after which they were tested again in 2009. In the photo, soldiers from different sides stand opposite each other on the border that divides the territory into two Koreas.
Pakistan's North West Province. Since 2001, along the border with Afghanistan, Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has seen some of the heaviest fighting between Islamists and Pakistani forces. Many people believe that al-Qaeda leaders are hiding here, which is why American planes constantly fly over here. This place is recognized as the most tense, hot spot in the world. The photo shows a burnt oil tanker, with a Pakistani soldier in the foreground.
Pakistan. This country remains a key country in the American fight against terrorism to this day, despite the fact that the whole world is watching the actions of Iraq and Afghanistan. The photo was taken in the Shah Mansoor refugee camp, Swabi city.
Somalia. Located in southeast Africa. There has been no peace in this country since 1990, just since the government ceased to exist. The leader was Mohamed Siada, who was overthrown in 1992. Immediately after that, the rebels split into groups that obeyed different dictators. The United States intervened in the conflict in 1992, but withdrew its troops two years later due to Black Hawk Down. In 2006, the government of the Organization of Islamic Courts stabilized the situation in the country, but not for long. The country is ruled by rebels and only a small part is controlled by Sheikh Sharif from the Islamic Courts. The photo shows a woman cooking in a refugee camp.
In general, several dictators are trying to control Somalia.
Philippines. The conflict in this country has been going on for more than 40 years, and is therefore considered the longest war in all of Asia. In 1969, a communist rebel group formed and called itself the New People's Army. The group set itself a goal - to overthrow Ferdinand Marcos, who died in 1989. Even Norway tried to resolve the conflict, but was unsuccessful. The "New People's Army" even recruits children into its ranks; children make up about 40% of the entire army. Photo taken in Luzon.
Gaza. In 2007, after bloody fighting, Hamas gained full control of the country. After Israel tightened sanctions, Hamas groups fired rockets at their closest cities. After a large-scale operation carried out by Israel in 2008 to destroy the military potential of Hamas, a huge number of civilians suffered. The photo was taken after an air attack carried out by the Israeli military.
India. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Indian Communist Party, known as the Naxalites, was "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 organization's goal is to overthrow the Indian regime. 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.
On September 11, 2001, American troops destroyed the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces and established a regime under the leadership of President Hamid Karzai. After 8 years, stability has not yet come to the country and this has embittered the Taliban even more. In 2009, new President Obama sent 30,000 American troops into the country to join NATO. In the photo, an Afghan family looks at the soldiers.
Nigeria. An anti-government movement called the Niger Delta emerged in 1995, immediately after the execution of human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues. This man spoke out against poverty and pollution of the country by oil companies. In the photo, the Niger Delta Movement celebrates its victory over Niger soldiers.
South Ossetia. South Ossetia is a Georgian province that has fallen out of control, located on the border with Russia. The South Ossetian Popular Front, created in 1988, fought for Ossetia to leave the control of Georgia and for them to cooperate with Russia. Some of the largest clashes occurred in 1991,1992, 2004, 2008. In the photo, Russian troops overcome mountains on the way to the South Ossetian conflict.
Central African Republic. In 2004, after a decade of instability in the country, Civil War. The rebels, calling themselves the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity, were the first to oppose the government of President Francois Bozizé, who came to 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. In the photo, French representative Michael Sampic speaks with the head of the village of Dakhele.
Burma. The Karen are an ethnic minority who have been fighting the Burmese government to recognize them since 1949. Autonomous Okrug Kawthoolei, located on the border with 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. The photo shows one of the soldiers with a machine gun on his shoulder from the Karen National Union.
Peru. Since 1980, the Peruvian government has been trying to destroy the Maoist guerrilla organization Shining Path. The partisans seek to overthrow what they believe is 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 is Peruvian Interior Minister Luis Alva Castro.
2015 was a turbulent year. Even a brief analysis of the situation is alarming; political scientists are increasingly labeling the situation as third world war. The planet's hot spots are unhealed old wounds. At any time, conflicts can and do break out in these places, causing pain to humanity.
In Afghanistan, the war continues between government forces and the Islamist Taliban movement. The war is going on with varying success, Afghan cities and provinces periodically change hands from warring parties.
Egypt's hot spot is the Sinai Peninsula, located in the Asian part of the country. There are Islamist rebels operating there. Due to the danger of terrorist attacks, a number of countries have stopped civil aviation flights over the peninsula.
The interethnic Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues. Its sides are the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. Israel is conducting a military operation to destroy warehouses containing Palestinian weapons, and Hamas is demanding an end to the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip and the release of prisoners. Israel carries out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, and in response receives rocket fire on its territory.
India is reeling from the activities of the Naxalite movement - armed Maoist groups. The rebel areas surround the country in a "red belt" from Indian Ocean to the border with China. The goal of the Naxalites is to create self-governing “free zones” in India. Naxalites account for half of the terrorist attacks in India. Their targets are police officers. The Naxalites proclaim themselves to be “defenders of the poor” and fight against “landowners who exploit the labor of the peasants.” They have been declared the most serious internal threat to India's national security. Another threat is conflicts between the government and separatists in the northeast of the country. The threat also comes from the Islamists in Kashmir.
In Indonesia, the struggle for the independence of the provinces of Papua and West Papua has intensified. The rebels are killing Indonesian soldiers, attacking military posts in mountainous areas, setting up ambushes, and shooting at security helicopters. The government brutally suppresses Papuan separatism.
After the withdrawal of foreign troops, Iraq entered into new phase civil war. The government is opposed by IS militants. They control the territory from the Syrian city of Aleppo to the territories bordering Baghdad, and captured the city of Ramadi in Anbar province. Military hotspots are flaring up across the country.
Iraqi Kurds took advantage of the difficult situation in the country, seized large oil fields, announced a referendum and secession from Iraq.
A fourth force also appeared. A Turkish tank battalion has been sent to the Mosul area. Iraq's militia said it would take action if Turkey did not withdraw its troops. Soon, Turkish fighters violated Iraqi airspace and launched airstrikes on Kurdish positions.
As the state of chaos in Iraq worsens, the government's conflicts with religious and ethnic groups intensify.
Yemen is rocked by three wars at once: Shiites based on interreligious strife, Islamists with the government, and in the south of the country - separatists with the government.
The situation is difficult in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, where separatists have raised their heads. The Uyghurs, who make up the majority of the population of the autonomous region, profess Islam. Separatist sentiments are very strong in this part of China. Radical political circles demand autonomy complete separation from the People's Republic of China. They want to create an independent state of East Turkestan.
As a result of tribal and religious strife, there is a civil war in Lebanon.
Pakistan is in conflict with the tribal areas - the so-called Tribal Areas, which are controlled by the Taliban. In the self-proclaimed state of North Waziristan on the territory of Pakistan, a military operation under the code name “Zarb-e-Azb” (“Striking Strike”) continues. Pakistani fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force carried out airstrikes on the hideouts of local terrorists.
The hottest spot on the planet in 2015 was Syria, where the government led by Bashar al-Assad is opposed by the opposition and Islamists. The war affected the entire country: about 1,500 groups (al-Nusra Front, IS and others) joined the military action, more than 100 thousand citizens took up arms. The conflict in Syria continues, the death toll is increasing, the opposition is gradually radicalizing, and this is driving the situation even further into a vicious circle of violence. Most of the country is now controlled by government forces, while the north has been captured by IS militants.
At the request of the Syrian government, Russia intervened in the conflict, for which radical Islamists pose a significant threat. Missile and bomb strikes were carried out on IS positions. The landing ships "Saratov" and "Nikolai Filchenkov" proceeded to Syria. There was panic and desertion in the ranks of IS — the forced mobilization of 14-year-olds began.
The situation has become more complicated in the Philippines, where the government is opposed by three forces: separatists seeking to divide the islands, radical Islamists and Maoist rebels. The same thing happens in Southern Thailand.
The entire region is in a fever. The bone of contention between Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei in the South China Sea has become the Spratly archipelago, which is claimed by all parties to the dispute.
Washington actively got involved in the disputes, sent the destroyer Lassen to the Chinese-controlled Subi and Mischief reefs, which Beijing turned into artificial islands, and illegally entered the 12-mile zone around the reefs.
A civil war continues in Colombia, in which, on the one hand, government troops are participating, and on the other, the radical left-wing Marxist rebel group FARC, which the US State Department has listed as a terrorist organization. The rebels disarmed and shot dozens of soldiers. The authorities respond to them with military operations. They are bombing strategic rebel targets.
In Mexico, the combined forces of the army and police are confronted by two opponents: separatists and drug cartels. In some regions, the population has formed militias because they do not trust the local corrupt police. The confrontation between government soldiers and bandits escalated into a war, which eventually involved the entire country. Drug cartels have become powerful and powerful. If previously they fought among themselves over the quantity of drug products, today they argue over highways, ports and coastal cities.
In April, a group of masked gunmen attacked a university campus in Garissa, Kenya, opened fire indiscriminately and took 533 students and 60 university faculty and staff hostage. Christians were chosen as victims. As a result terrorist attack 148 people were killed and 79 were injured. The Somali group Harakat al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack. Kenyan Air Force planes bombed two bases of this group.
In November, in the capital of Mali, Bamako, armed terrorists attacked the Radisson Hotel, broke into the building and took about 170 people hostage. 19 people were killed during the attack. Supporters of the Al-Murabitoun group, associated with the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack. Six Russians, employees of the Volga-Dnepr airline, which carried out missions to transport humanitarian cargo, also became victims of jihad. The Russians were shot point-blank with machine guns. Clashes between government troops and the French army continue in the country partisan detachments Tuaregs from Libya and radical Islamists. This only increases the instability and humanitarian crisis in the region. There are the largest markets for weapons, slaves, drugs on the African continent and the main shelters for dozens of terrorist organizations.
Nigeria is one of the most troubled African countries. In January, Islamist militants from the Boko Haram group captured a Nigerian army base near Baga and then began large-scale and indiscriminate massacres. More than 2,000 people died, including children and the elderly. Baga and 16 other cities and towns were destroyed and more than 30,500 people were forced to flee their homes. Many tried to cross the border to escape, but drowned in Lake Chad in the process. The series of killings is a consequence of Boko Haram gaining control over 70 percent of Borno State. The goal of the terrorists is to establish Sharia law throughout Nigeria, although Muslims do not constitute the majority in the country. Terrorists publicly execute people and take hostages every day.
IN South Sudan The Dinka and Nuer tribal alliances are in conflict. More than 10 thousand people were killed, and 700 thousand became forced refugees. The situation resulted in a large-scale military conflict. The rebels control important oil-producing areas - the backbone of the country's economy.
The military conflict in Ukraine is the second largest after the Syrian one. After the signing of the Minsk ceasefire agreement, active fighting paused. However, in some areas (for example, Donetsk airport), shelling and explosions continue to this day.
Vladimir Kozhevnikov, “Vayar”, [email protected]
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Issue No. 23