Today it may seem that all the terrible wars are in the distant past. But this is not so. Despite the fact that, according to studies, much less people die in the 21st century as a result of military operations than in past centuries, hot spots break out in different regions of our planet. Armed conflicts, military crises - probably humanity will never lay down its arms.
The planet’s hot spots are like old wounds that still cannot heal. For a while, the conflicts fade away, but then flare up again and again, bringing pain and suffering to humanity. The international crisis group called the regions of hot spots on our planet that are now threatening peace.
Iraq
The conflict occurred between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and government forces, as well as other religious and ethnic groups in the country. So, ISIS terrorists announced that they were going to create an Islamic state in the territories of Syria and Iraq - the caliphate. Of course, the current government opposed.
However, at the moment, the militants are unable to resist. Hot spots break out across the country, and the ISIS caliphate is expanding its borders. Today it is a huge territory from the borders of Baghdad to the Syrian city of Aleppo. The troops of the current government were able to free from terrorists only two large cities - Uja and Tikrit.
The difficult situation of the country took advantage of the Autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan. During ISIS offensive operations, Kurds seized power over several large oil producing areas. And today they announced a referendum and secession from Iraq.
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip has been on the list of hot spots for a long time. Conflicts between Israel and the Hamas Palestinian group have flared up over and over for decades. The main reason is the unwillingness of the parties to listen to each other's arguments.
So, Israel launched a military operation in order to destroy the infrastructure of underground tunnels and warehouses with Palestinian weapons in order to deprive terrorists of the opportunity to attack Israeli territory. Hamas demands that the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip be lifted and the prisoners released.
The immediate cause of the fighting that has now unfolded in the Gaza Strip is the death of three Israeli teenagers, and in response to this - the killing of a Palestinian. And on July 17, 2014, regular hostilities began: tanks went, rockets flew.
Already several times during this time, the parties were going to conclude a truce, however, all attempts to reach an agreement failed. As before, shells explode, people die, and journalists in hot spots take pictures that are scary to watch …
Syria
The military conflict in Syria erupted after the authorities brutally suppressed opposition demonstrations that broke out under the auspices of the "Arab Spring." The clashes of the government army under the command of Bashar al-Assad and the coalition of the Syrian armed forces led to a real war. It affected almost the entire country: about 1, 500 groups (Front al-Nusra, ISIS and others) joined the hostilities, more than 100, 000 citizens took up arms. The most powerful and dangerous were the radical Islamists.
Hot spots are scattered today across the country. After all, Syria is under the control of various terrorist gangs. Most of the country today is controlled by government troops. The north of the state is completely captured by ISIS. Although in some places the Kurds are still trying to conquer the territory. Not far from the capital, militants of an organized group called the Islamic Front intensified. And in the city of Aleppo, there are skirmishes between the military forces of Assad and the moderate opposition.
South sudan
The country is divided into two opposing tribal unions - Nuer and Dinki. Nuers are the predominant population of the state, and the current president also belongs to them. The Dinki are the second largest among the peoples of South Sudan.
The conflict erupted after the president of Sudan announced to the public that his assistant, the vice president, was trying to provoke a coup in the country. Immediately after his speech, riots, protests and numerous arrests began in the country. Complete disruption and disorganization resulted in a real military conflict.
Today, oil producing regions of the country are hot spots. They are ruled by rebels led by the disgraced vice president. This negatively affected the economic component of Sudan. The country's civilian population suffered greatly: more than ten thousand victims, about seven hundred thousand were forced to become refugees. In order to somehow resolve this conflict, the UN sent its peacekeeping contingent to South Sudan, which was supposed to serve as a defense for the civilian population.
In the spring of 2014, militant unions tried to come to some sort of compromise. However, the rebel leader openly admitted that he had long since lost power over the rebels. In addition, Uganda’s troops on the side of the Sudanese president prevented the peace talks.
Nigeria
Since 2002, a terrorist Islamic organization called "Boko Haram" has been operating in the country. The main goal they pursue is the establishment of Sharia law throughout Nigeria. However, both the authorities and the majority of citizens are against this “proposal”, since Muslims in the country do not constitute a majority.
Since its founding, the group has significantly expanded its influence, armed itself well and began to openly kill Christians, as well as those Muslims who are loyal to them. Terrorists commit terrorist acts daily and publicly execute people. In addition, they periodically take hostages. So, in April 2014, more than two hundred schoolgirls were captured by the Islamists. They hold them for ransom, as well as prostitution and sale into slavery.
The government has repeatedly tried to negotiate with the terrorists, but no negotiations have been successful. Today, entire regions of the country are under the control of a group. And the authorities are not able to cope with the situation. The President of Nigeria requested financial assistance from the world community in order to increase the combat effectiveness of the country's army, which is currently losing to extremists.
Sahel region
The crisis began back in 2012, when Tuaregs poured into Mali due to hostilities in Libya. In the northern part of the country, they formed a state called Azawad. However, less than a year later, a military coup broke out in a self-proclaimed power. Taking advantage of the situation, France sent its troops into the territory of Mali in order to help fight the Tuareg and radical Islamists who control the area. In general, today the Sahel has become a stronghold of the slave trade, drug trafficking, the sale of weapons and prostitution.
The feuds eventually led to widespread famine. According to the UN, more than eleven million people in the region are sitting without food, and if the situation does not resolve, then by the end of 2014 this figure will increase by another seven million. However, no change for the better is yet to be expected: military operations between the government, French, Tuareg and terrorists are in full swing throughout Mali. And this is despite the fact that the state of Azavad is no longer there.
Mexico
In Mexico, for decades, there has been a constant confrontation between local drug cartels. The authorities never touched them, as they were completely corrupt. And it was no secret to anyone. However, when Felipe Calderon was elected president in 2006, everything changed. The new head of the country decided to change the existing situation once and for all and sent an army to one of the states in order to deal with crime and restore law and order. It didn’t lead to anything good. The confrontation between government soldiers and bandits ended in a war in which the whole country ended up.
In the eight years since the conflict began, drug cartels have gained power, power and significantly expanded their borders. If earlier they fought among themselves for the quantity and quality of drug products, today they are arguing over highways, ports and coastal cities. Under the control of the mafia were the markets of weapons, prostitution, counterfeit products. Government forces are clearly losing in this fight. And the reason for this is corruption. It comes to the fact that many military simply go over to the side of drug cartels. In some regions of the country, local residents also opposed the mafia: they organized popular militias. By this, people want to show that they absolutely do not trust either the authorities or the local police.
Central Asia Hotspots
The tension in the region is created by Afghanistan, in which wars have not subsided for many decades, as well as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which got involved in territorial disputes with each other. Another reason for the ongoing conflicts in the region is the main drug traffic in the Eastern Hemisphere. Because of him, local criminal groups constantly clash.
It seemed that after the Americans had removed their military from Afghanistan, the country was finally calm. However, it did not last long. After the presidential election, a mass of dissatisfied appeared who refused to recognize the vote as legitimate. Taking advantage of the situation in the country, the Taliban terrorist organization began to seize the capital of Afghanistan.
In the winter of 2014, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan got involved in territorial feuds, which was accompanied by military operations in the border zones. Tajikistan has stated that Kyrgyzstan has violated existing borders. In turn, the Kyrgyz government accused them of the same. Since the collapse of the USSR, conflicts between these countries periodically arise over the existing designation of borders, but there is no clear section. Uzbekistan intervened in the dispute, having already presented its claims. The question is the same: the country's authorities do not agree with the borders that formed after the collapse of the USSR. States have repeatedly tried to somehow resolve the situation, but they have not come to an agreement and a concrete solution to the issue. At the moment, the atmosphere in the region is extremely tense and can at any moment result in hostilities.
China and countries in the region
Today, the Paracel Islands are the world's hot spots. The conflict was initiated by the fact that the Chinese suspended the development of oil wells near the archipelago. This was not liked by Vietnam and the Philippines, who sent troops to Hanoi. To show the Chinese their attitude to the situation, the military of both countries played a demonstration football match on the territory of the Spratly archipelago. By this they aroused the anger of Beijing: Chinese warships appeared near the disputed islands. At the same time, there were no military operations from Beijing. However, Vietnam claims that warships with the Chinese flag have already sunk more than one fishing vessel. Mutual reproaches and accusations can lead to missiles flying at any time.
Hot spots of Ukraine
The crisis in Ukraine began in November 2013. After the Crimea peninsula became part of the Russian Federation in March, it intensified. Dissatisfied with the situation in the state, pro-Russian activists formed Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics in the east of Ukraine. The government, led by the new president, Poroshenko, sent an army against the separatists. The fighting unfolded in the territory of Donbass (map of hot spots below).
In the summer of 2014, a liner from Malaysia crashed over the territory of Donbass controlled by the separatists. Killed 298 people. The Ukrainian government has declared guilty of the DNI and LNR militants guilty of this tragedy, as well as the Russian side, allegedly supplying the rebels with weapons and air defense systems, through which the airliner was shot down. However, the DNI and LC refused to participate in the disaster. Russia also stated that it had nothing to do with the conflict inside Ukraine and the death of the liner.
On September 5, the Minsk Armistice Agreement was signed, as a result of which active hostilities in the country ceased. However, in certain areas (for example, Donetsk airport), shelling and explosions continue to this day.
