In a world where the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict has captivated global headlines, it is easy to overlook the myriad of other pivotal conflicts reshaping the international landscape.
And, because the Israeli-Hezbollah war is merely one piece of a complex geopolitical puzzle, our correspondent, Nabilah Abdulgafar, has compiled a comprehensive overview of the critical disputes unfolding across the globe.
To offer a more nuanced understanding, her report provides readers with a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of modern conflict, revealing the intricate web of tensions and interests that define our world today.
Below is a list of other major global unrest you should know, and follow closely.
Russia-Ukrain war
The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War[c] began in February 2014 making an ongoing eight year conflict between both countries.
The war began following Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity, while Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian military in the Donbas War.
In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and began occupying more of the country, starting the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The war has resulted in a refugee crisis and tens of thousands of deaths.
China–United States trade war
This was since inception has been an economic conflict between China and the United States.
The conflict has been ongoing since January 2018, when former U.S. President, Donald Trump, began setting tariffs and other trade barriers on China.
The trade barrier was set with the goal of forcing China to make changes to what the U.S. says are longstanding unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft.
The Trump administration stated that these practices may contribute to the U.S.–China trade deficit, and that the Chinese government requires transfer of American technology to China.
However, in response to US trade measures, the Chinese government accused the Trump administration of engaging in nationalist protectionism and took retaliatory action.
After the trade war escalated throughout 2019, in January 2020 the two sides reached a tense phase one agreement but by the end of the Trump presidency, the trade war was widely characterized as a failure for the United States.
Subsequently, Trump’s successor, Joe Biden, however, has kept the tariffs in place. Note that in early 2024, the Trump presidential campaign was mulling a 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods.
Iran–Israel conflict
This year, the Iran–Israel proxy conflict escalated to a brief period of direct confrontation between the two countries.
According to Wikipedia, Israel bombed an Iranian consulate complex in Damascus, Syria, killing multiple senior Iranian officials on the 1st of April.
In response to the killings, Iran and its proxies seized the Israeli-linked ship MSC Aries and launched strikes inside Israel on the 13th of April.
Israel then carried out retaliatory strikes in Iran and Syria on 19th of April.
The Israeli strikes were limited, and analysts say they signaled a desire to de-escalate. However, Iran did not respond to the attack, and tensions de-escalated back down to the proxy conflict.
Meanwhile, tensions increased after the assassination of the political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, on 31st July which occurred a few hours after the 2024 Haret Hreik airstrike that also assassinated Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr.
Indo-Pakistani Conflicts
The long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan primarily stems from territorial disputes over Kashmir and accusations of cross-border terrorism. However, an exception to this pattern is the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which was triggered by the Bangladesh Liberation War, leading to the secession of East Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh.
On 10th August 1999, the Atlantique Incident (1999) occurred just a month after the Kargil War. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated when the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistan Navy Breguet Atlantique patrol plane, which was allegedly violating Indian airspace over the Rann of Kutch.
The incident resulted in the deaths of 16 people aboard. Although foreign diplomats pointed out that the plane crashed inside Pakistani territory and possibly strayed across the border, they criticized India’s response as excessive. Pakistan filed a compensation claim at the International Court of Justice, but the case was dismissed due to a lack of jurisdiction.
Meanwhile in 2011, there occurred the 2011 India–Pakistan Border Shooting Incident which took place between 30 August and 1 September 2011.
Records shows that the clash along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara District/Neelam Valley resulted in the deaths of five Indian soldiers and three Pakistani soldiers. Both nations accused the other of initiating the conflict.
In 2013, there was also an occurrence tagged the 2013 Mendhar Sector Beheading Incident. The beheading of an Indian soldier in the Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir fueled further hostilities. A total of 22 soldiers were killed, 12 Indian and 10 Pakistani.
In addition, the 2014–2015 Arnia Sector Skirmishes began. These skirmishes started in the Arnia sector of Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier and injuries to three others, along with four civilians, by Pakistan Rangers.
Major causes of war
Wars throughout history have been sparked by a variety of factors. Territorial disputes, for instance, have led to conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war, where competing claims to land and resources have fueled violence.
Similarly, the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir has resulted in numerous clashes, highlighting the volatile nature of border disputes.
Other causes include:
- Nationalism: Ethnic and cultural tensions between nations or groups.
- Imperialism: Expansionist policies and competition for colonies and resources
- Ideology: Conflicts between different political, economic, or social ideologies
- Religion: Conflicts between different religious groups or interpretations
- Resources: Competition for scarce resources like oil, water, or minerals
- Economic interests: Conflicts over trade, markets, and economic influence
- Security and defense: Preemptive strikes or self-defense against perceived threats
- Alliances and diplomacy: Conflicts arising from complex webs of alliances and diplomatic relationships
- Historical grievances: Unresolved historical conflicts, injustices, or traumas
- Demographic and environmental factors: Conflicts over population growth, migration, or environmental degradation
