Major Wars and Conflicts of the 20th and 21st Centuries

Major Wars and Conflicts of the 20th and 21st Centuries

1. Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905)
2. World War I (1914 - 1918)
3. Armenian Genocide (1915–1923)
4. Chinese Civil War (1927 - 1949)
5. Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939)
6. World War II (1939 - 1945)
7. Cold War (1947 - 1991)
8. First Arab-Israeli War (1948)
9. India-Pakistan War (1947 - 1948)
10. Korean War (1950 - 1953)
11. Algerian War of Independence (1954 - 1962)
12. Vietnam War (1955 - 1975)
13. India-Pakistan War (1965)
14. Six-Day War (1967)
15. Cambodian Civil War (1967 - 1975)
16. India-Pakistan War (1971)
17. Yom Kippur War (1973)
18. Lebanese Civil War (1975 - 1990)
19. Afghan-Soviet War (1979 - 1989)
20. Iranian Revolution (1979)
21. Iran-Iraq War (1980 - 1988)
22. Falklands War (1982)
23. Sri Lankan Civil War (1983 - 2009)
24. Israel-Iran Proxy War (1985 - Present)
25. Gulf War (1990 - 1991)
26. Bosnian War (1992 - 1995)
27. Rwandan Genocide (1994)
28. Second Congo War (1998 - 2003)
29. India-Pakistan War (1999)
30. War on Terror (2001 - Present)
31. Iraq War (2003 - 2011)
32. Syrian Civil War (2011 - Present)

Russo - Japanese War (1904 - 1905) 👇

• Why = Territorial disputes over Korea and Manchuria.

• Who = Russia vs Japan.

• Result = Japan won, became one of the World Powers by dominating Asia.

• Ended by = Treaty of Portsmouth.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Russo-Japanese-War

World War I (1914 - 1918) 👇

• Why = Sparked by the assassination of Austro-Hungarian heir, and alliances triggered World War I.

• Who = Allied Powers (UK, France, Russia, Italy, USA) vs Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria).

• Result = Allied victory; the Treaty of Versailles punished Germany.

• Ended by = Treaty of Versailles.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I

Armenian Genocide (1915–1923) 👇

• Why = Fear of Armenians aligning with Russia during WW I and rising Turkish nationalism.

• Who = Armenian Christians vs Ottoman Government governed by Islam.

• Result = Estimated 1.5 million Armenians killed, with many others displaced or fleeing.

• Ended by = Fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1922 and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Armenian-Genocide

Chinese Civil War (1927 - 1949) 👇

• Why = Power struggle between Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek and Communists led by Mao Zedong.

• Who = Chinese Communist Party vs Kuomintang (Nationalist Party).

• Result = Communist victory; Nationalists retreated to Taiwan.

• Ended by = Nationalists retreated.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Chinese-Civil-War

Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939) 👇

• Why = Nationalists sought to overthrow the Leftist Republican Government.

• Who = Nationalists vs Republicans (Supported by USSR).

• Result = Nationalist victory; Francisco Franco ruled Spain.

• Ended by = Nationalist control of Spain.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Spanish-Civil-War

World War II (1939 - 1945) 👇

• Why = Britain and France declared war on Germany due to its invasion of Poland, officially starting World War II.

• Who = Allies (USA, USSR, UK, China) vs Axis (Germany, Japan, Italy).

• Result = Allied victory; UN created, Cold War began.

• Ended by = Surrender of Germany and Japan.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II

Cold War (1947 - 1991) 👇

• Why = Ideological conflict between USA Capitalism and USSR Communism.

• Who = USA and its allies vs USSR and its allies.

• Confrontations = Proxy wars (Korean, Vietnam, Afghan) and the race for global influence, space, and military power.

• Result = USSR collapsed, and the USA emerged as the World's leading Superpower.

• Ended by = Dissolution of the USSR in 1991.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War

First Arab - Israeli War (1948) 👇

• Why = Arab nations rejected the UN partition plan for Palestine, and war broke out after Israel declared Independence.

• Who = Israel vs Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia.

• Result = Israel expanded its territory behind the UN partition plan.

• Ended by = Armistice Agreement.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/1948-Arab-Israeli-War

India - Pakistan War (1947 - 1948) 👇

• Why = Dispute over Kashmir.

• Who = India vs Pakistan.

• Result = Ended with a ceasefire.

• Ended by = UN mediated ceasefire Agreement.

• Reference = https://gallantryawards.gov.in/assets/uploads/wars/pdf/pak.pdf

Korean War (1950 - 1953) 👇

• Why = North Korea invaded South Korea to spread Communism.

• Who = North Korea, China, USSR vs South Korea, USA, UN.

• Result = Korea remained divided along the heavily guarded Demilitarized Zone near the latitude 38° N.

• Ended by = Armistice Agreement.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Korean-War

Algerian War of Independence (1954 - 1962) 👇

• Why = Algeria fought for independence from French colonial rule.

• Who = National Liberation Front (Algeria) vs France.

• Result = Algeria won Independence in 1962.

• Ended by =  Evian Accords.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Algerian-War

Vietnam War (1955 - 1975) 👇

• Why = North Vietnam tried to unify the country under Communism.

• Who = North Vietnam, USSR, China vs South Vietnam, USA.

• Result = North Vietnam’s victory led to the unification of Vietnam under Communism.

• Ended by = Fall of South Vietnam's Capital Saigon by North Vietnam.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War

India - Pakistan War (1965) 👇

• Why =  Another war over Kashmir.

• Who = India vs Pakistan.

• Result = Ended in stalemate.

• Ended by = Tashkent Agreement.

• Reference = https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/india-pakistan-war

Six - Day War (1967) 👇

• Why = Tensions and border disputes between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

• Who = Israel vs Egypt, Jordan, Syria.

• Result = Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights, and East Jerusalem.

• Ended by =  Israel signed a formal cease-fire agreement with Egypt. 

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Six-Day-War

Cambodian Civil War (1967 - 1975) 👇

• Why = Khmer Rouge sought to overthrow the Government.

• Who = Khmer Rouge vs Cambodian Government.

• Result = Khmer Rouge won; mass killings followed.

• Ended by = Khmer Rouge takeover.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambodia/Civil-war

India - Pakistan War (1971) 👇

• Why = India helped Bangladesh gain Independence from Pakistan.

• Who = India vs Pakistan.

• Result = Bangladesh gained Independence.

• Ended by = Surrender of Pakistan.  

• Reference = https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/south-asia

Yom Kippur War (1973) 👇

• Why = Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel to reclaim lost territories.

• Who = Egypt, Syria vs Israel.

• Result = Israel retained control, and peace talks eventually followed.

• Ended by = UN mediated ceasefire Agreement.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Yom-Kippur-War

Lebanese Civil War (1975 - 1990) 👇

• Why = Lebanon’s Christian, Muslim, and Druze communities divisions escalated into conflict.

• Who = Various militias and factions with involvement from Syria, Israel, Iran, and the PLO.

• Result = Taif Agreement restructured political power and ended major hostilities.

• Ended by = Taif Agreement.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Lebanese-Civil-War

Afghan - Soviet War (1979 - 1989) 👇

• Why = USSR invaded Afghanistan to support its communist Government.

• Who = USSR vs Afghan Mujahedeen (supported by the USA, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia).

• Result = USSR withdrawal; rise of the Taliban.

• Ended by = Geneva Accords.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan

Iranian Revolution (1979) 👇

• Why = Sparked due to the autocratic rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

• Who = Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi vs Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

• Result = Overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran under Ayatollah Khomeini.

• Ended by = Exile of Shah.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Iranian-Revolution

Iran - Iraq War (1980 - 1988) 👇

• Why = Border disputes and ideological differences.

• Who = Iran vs Iraq.

• Result = Ceasefire; no territorial gains for either side.

• Ended by = UN mediated ceasefire Agreement.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Iran-Iraq-War

Falklands War (1982) 👇

• Why = Argentina invaded the British-controlled Falkland Islands.

• Who = Argentina vs United Kingdom.

• Result = UK recaptured the islands.

• Ended by = Surrender of Argentina.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Falkland-Islands-War

Sri Lankan Civil War (1983 - 2009) 👇

• Why =  Tamil Tigers (LTTE) sought an independent Tamil state.

• Who =  Sri Lankan Government vs Tamil Tigers (LTTE).

• Result =  Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tigers.

• Ended by =  LTTE defeat.

• Reference = https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/3/27/timeline-of-sri-lankas-civil-war-2

Israel - Iran Proxy War (1985 - Present) 👇

• Why = Ideological, religious, and geopolitical differences after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

• Who = Israel (USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Azerbaijan) vs Iran (USSR, Lebanon - Hezbollah, Palestine - Hamas, Syria - President, Yemen - Houthis).

• Result = Ongoing instability, sporadic clashes, and escalating tensions.

• Ended by = No formal resolution; conflict continues.

• Reference = https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/iran-and-israel-shift-from-proxy-war-to-direct-conflict/

Gulf War (1990 - 1991) 👇

• Why =  Iraq invaded Kuwait for oil and territorial claims.

• Who = Iraq vs US coalition (USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, etc.).

• Result = US coalition liberated Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

• Ended by = Iraqi retreat.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Persian-Gulf-War

Bosnian War (1992 - 1995) 👇

• Why =  Ethnic conflict after Yugoslavia’s breakup.

• Who = Bosniaks, Croats vs Serbs.

• Result =  The war ended with the signing of the Dayton Accords.

• Ended by = Dayton Accords.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Bosnian-War

Rwandan Genocide (1994) 👇

• Why = Ethnic hatred led Hutu extremists to massacre Tutsis.

• Who = Hutu extremists vs Tutsi minority.

• Result = 8,00,000 Tutsis people were killed in 100 days.

• Ended by = Rwandan Patriotic Front victory.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Rwanda-genocide-of-1994

Second Congo War (1998 - 2003) 👇

• Why = Power struggles, ethnic tensions, and control over mineral-rich areas.

• Who = Democratic Republic of Congo vs various rebel groups.

• Result = One of the deadliest wars since WWII; peace agreements were signed.

• Ended by =  Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and Pretoria Accord.

• Reference = https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/a-guide-to-the-decades-long-conflict-in-dr-congo

India-Pakistan War (1999) 👇

• Why = Pakistan infiltrated Indian territory in Kargil.

• Who = India vs Pakistan.

• Result = India repelled Pakistan from Kargil.

• Ended by = Indian victory.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Kargil-War

War on Terror (2001 - Present) 👇

• Why = Launched after the 9/11 attacks to dismantle al-Qaeda, defeat the Taliban, and combat ISIS.

• Who = USA and NATO vs al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS.

• Confrontations = Killing of Osama Bin-laden, Iraq War, USA withdrawal from Afghanistan, etc.

• Result = Ongoing conflict with the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan after the USA withdrawal.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/topic/war-on-terrorism

Iraq War (2003 - 2011) 👇

• Why = To eliminate weapons of mass destruction, overthrow Saddam Hussein, and fight terrorism.

• Who = USA, UK vs Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein.

• Result = Saddam Hussein’s overthrow caused instability, insurgency, and a power vacuum, leading to the rise of ISIS.

• Ended by = Formal withdrawal of USA troops in 2011.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Iraq-War

Syrian Civil War (2011 - Present) 👇

• Why = Protests against Assad’s Government escalated into civil war.

• Who = Syrian Government, USSR vs ISIS, Kurdish forces, USA, Turkey.

• Result = Ongoing conflict with shifting alliances and high civilian casualties.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/Syrian-Civil-War

Russia - Ukraine War (2022 - Present) 👇

• Why = To prevent Ukraine's alignment with NATO.

• Who = Russia vs Ukraine.

• Result = Ongoing territorial disputes, with no definitive resolution yet.

• Reference = https://www.britannica.com/event/2022-Russian-invasion-of-Ukraine

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