Wars In The World Right Now

Syria – The world’s bloodiest war by far; also has generated millions of refugees. Atrocities on all sides but primarily the government. Spread to Iraq in 2014. Still no solution in sight.

Iraq – Radical Islamists from the U.S. war in Iraq fought in Syria and in 2014 seized much land and resources with support of Sunni tribes who oppose Shi’ite government.

Afghanistan – Fate of government uncertain as international community draws down forces and Taliban persists.

Pakistan – After collapse of peace talks, government battling Taliban elements in autonomous tribal areas adjacent to Afghanistan.

Nigeria – In the north, a violent Islamist group has instigated repeated violence such as bombings, and government attacks in response. The fighting occasionally spills over into neighboring Cameroon and Chad, whose armed forces are helping.

Ukraine – Low-level fighting, ongoing in the east near Russia, killed several thousand in 2014, in addition to the hundreds killed by the shoot-down of a civilian jet. Government opposes pro-Russian armed separatists who control territory.

South Sudan – After a long north-south war, the south voted for independence, achieved in 2011. But South Sudan itself slipped into a bloody civil war (along ethnic lines) that reportedly has killed tens of thousands. UN peacekeepers are present but fighting continues and humanitarian needs are extreme.

Israel/Gaza – Fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2014 exceeded a thousand killed.

Somalia – African Union troops (mostly from nearby countries such as Uganda) restored government control of all major cities, leaving al Shabab militants in the countryside to carry out occasional bombings in the cities they no longer control (and in neighboring Kenya, which has troops in Somalia).

Yemen – The post-Saleh government with many competing factions has had some success against Islamic militants who had seized some towns in the south, but ethnic-based fighting has flared up in the north.