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Major International Conflict Zones - JSON

Major International Conflict Zones is a comprehensive list of regions worldwide where armed conflicts and tensions continue, including the Middle East, Horn of Africa, South China Sea, Eastern Europe, and South Asia. As of 2025, serious humanitarian crises and geopolitical tensions persist in many regions, including the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Israel-Palestine conflict, Sudan civil war, India-Pakistan tensions, and South China Sea territorial disputes. These conflicts have global impacts on international security, economy, and refugee issues.

international conflict armed conflict Middle East Horn of Africa South China Sea Ukraine security geopolitics humanitarian crisis 
[
  {
    "code": "001",
    "slug": "ukraine-russia",
    "name": "Ukraine-Russia Conflict",
    "location": "Ukraine, Western Russia",
    "region": "Eastern Europe",
    "conflict_type": "International Conflict / Territorial Aggression",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Ukraine",
      "Russia",
      "North Korea (troop deployment)",
      "NATO countries (support)"
    ],
    "start_year": 2022,
    "status": "Ongoing",
    "description": "Large-scale conflict resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022."
  },
  {
    "code": "002",
    "slug": "israel-palestine-gaza",
    "name": "Israel-Palestine Conflict (Gaza)",
    "location": "Gaza Strip, Israel, West Bank",
    "region": "Middle East",
    "conflict_type": "Asymmetric Conflict / Terrorism / Retaliatory Attacks",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Israel",
      "Hamas",
      "Hezbollah",
      "Iran (support)"
    ],
    "start_year": 2023,
    "status": "Ceasefire Collapsed / Fighting Resumed",
    "description": "Large-scale conflict ongoing since Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023."
  },
  {
    "code": "003",
    "slug": "sudan-civil-war",
    "name": "Sudan Civil War",
    "location": "Sudan (especially Khartoum, Darfur region)",
    "region": "Horn of Africa",
    "conflict_type": "Civil War / Power Struggle",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)",
      "Rapid Support Forces (RSF)"
    ],
    "start_year": 2023,
    "status": "Ongoing / Severe Humanitarian Crisis",
    "description": "Civil war ongoing since April 2023 between the national army and paramilitary RSF."
  },
  {
    "code": "004",
    "slug": "south-china-sea",
    "name": "South China Sea Territorial Disputes",
    "location": "South China Sea (Scarborough Shoal, Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, etc.)",
    "region": "Southeast Asia",
    "conflict_type": "Territorial / Maritime Rights Dispute",
    "involved_parties": [
      "China",
      "Philippines",
      "Vietnam",
      "Malaysia",
      "Brunei",
      "Taiwan",
      "United States (involved)"
    ],
    "start_year": 1970,
    "status": "Ongoing Tensions / Risk of Accidental Conflict",
    "description": "Multilateral territorial dispute over islands and maritime rights in the South China Sea."
  },
  {
    "code": "005",
    "slug": "india-pakistan-kashmir",
    "name": "India-Pakistan-Kashmir Conflict",
    "location": "Kashmir region, India-Pakistan border",
    "region": "South Asia",
    "conflict_type": "Territorial Dispute / Nuclear-armed States Tension",
    "involved_parties": [
      "India",
      "Pakistan",
      "Kashmir separatist forces"
    ],
    "start_year": 1947,
    "status": "Emergency occurred in May 2025 / Nuclear War Risk",
    "description": "Conflict between India and Pakistan over the归属 of the Kashmir region."
  },
  {
    "code": "006",
    "slug": "ethiopia-internal-conflicts",
    "name": "Ethiopia Internal Conflicts",
    "location": "Ethiopia (Amhara Region, Oromia Region, Tigray)",
    "region": "Horn of Africa",
    "conflict_type": "Civil War / Ethnic Conflict",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Ethiopian Federal Government",
      "Fano militia",
      "Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)",
      "Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)"
    ],
    "start_year": 2018,
    "status": "Multiple Conflicts Ongoing",
    "description": "Multiple armed groups and government forces in confrontation within Ethiopia."
  },
  {
    "code": "007",
    "slug": "somalia-al-shabaab",
    "name": "Somalia-Al-Shabaab Conflict",
    "location": "Somalia (especially Mogadishu, Hirshabelle region)",
    "region": "Horn of Africa",
    "conflict_type": "Government Forces vs. Extremist Organization",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Somali Federal Government",
      "Al-Shabaab",
      "African Union forces (ATMIS)"
    ],
    "start_year": 2006,
    "status": "Ongoing",
    "description": "Conflict between the Islamist extremist group Al-Shabaab and the Somali government."
  },
  {
    "code": "008",
    "slug": "myanmar-civil-war",
    "name": "Myanmar Civil War",
    "location": "Throughout Myanmar (especially Shan State, Kayin State, Magway Region)",
    "region": "Southeast Asia",
    "conflict_type": "Civil War / Military Junta vs. Pro-democracy Forces",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw)",
      "Ethnic Armed Organizations",
      "People's Defense Forces (PDF)"
    ],
    "start_year": 2021,
    "status": "Escalating",
    "description": "Conflict between the military junta and pro-democracy forces has intensified since the 2021 coup."
  },
  {
    "code": "009",
    "slug": "sahel-terrorism",
    "name": "Sahel Region Islamist Extremist Activity",
    "location": "Sahel region (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger)",
    "region": "West Africa",
    "conflict_type": "Terrorism / Anti-government Activity",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Islamist extremist groups (Al-Qaeda, IS affiliates)",
      "National government forces",
      "Wagner (Russian PMC)"
    ],
    "start_year": 2012,
    "status": "Expanding",
    "description": "Violence by Islamist extremists operating in the Sahel region is expanding."
  },
  {
    "code": "010",
    "slug": "syria-post-assad",
    "name": "Syria Post-Assad Transition",
    "location": "Throughout Syria",
    "region": "Middle East",
    "conflict_type": "Post-regime Collapse Order Reconstruction",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Syrian Transitional Government",
      "HTS",
      "Kurdish forces (SDF)",
      "Turkey",
      "Israel",
      "Russia"
    ],
    "start_year": 2024,
    "status": "Transition Period / Unstable",
    "description": "Formation of a new political order is underway following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024."
  },
  {
    "code": "011",
    "slug": "yemen-civil-war",
    "name": "Yemen Civil War",
    "location": "Throughout Yemen (especially Hudaydah, Sana'a, Marib)",
    "region": "Middle East",
    "conflict_type": "Civil War / Proxy War",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Houthi movement",
      "Yemeni Government (Hadi administration)",
      "Southern Transitional Council (STC)",
      "Saudi Arabia",
      "UAE",
      "Iran"
    ],
    "start_year": 2014,
    "status": "Ceasefire Maintained / Fragile Peace",
    "description": "Civil war between Houthi rebels and government forces. Ceasefire has been maintained since 2022 but remains fragile."
  },
  {
    "code": "012",
    "slug": "taiwan-strait-tensions",
    "name": "Taiwan Strait Tensions",
    "location": "Taiwan Strait, waters surrounding Taiwan",
    "region": "East Asia",
    "conflict_type": "Military Tension / Unification Issue",
    "involved_parties": [
      "China",
      "Taiwan",
      "United States",
      "Japan"
    ],
    "start_year": 1949,
    "status": "Rising Tensions / Risk of Accidental Conflict",
    "description": "Military tensions surrounding the unification issue between China and Taiwan."
  },
  {
    "code": "013",
    "slug": "east-china-sea",
    "name": "East China Sea / Senkaku Islands Issue",
    "location": "East China Sea, waters surrounding Senkaku Islands",
    "region": "East Asia",
    "conflict_type": "Territorial / Maritime Rights Dispute",
    "involved_parties": [
      "Japan",
      "China",
      "Taiwan"
    ],
    "start_year": 1970,
    "status": "Ongoing Tensions",
    "description": "Conflict between Japan and China over sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands."
  },
  {
    "code": "014",
    "slug": "south-sudan-conflict",
    "name": "South Sudan Conflict",
    "location": "Throughout South Sudan",
    "region": "Horn of Africa",
    "conflict_type": "Civil War / Political Confrontation",
    "involved_parties": [
      "South Sudan Government (President Kiir faction)",
      "Vice President Machar faction",
      "SPLM-IO"
    ],
    "start_year": 2013,
    "status": "Resurgence in 2025 / Risk of Peace Agreement Collapse",
    "description": "Civil war that has continued intermittently since 2013. New armed clashes occurred in 2025."
  },
  {
    "code": "015",
    "slug": "democratic-republic-congo",
    "name": "Eastern DRC Conflict",
    "location": "Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (North Kivu, South Kivu)",
    "region": "Central Africa",
    "conflict_type": "Civil War / Militia Activity / Resource Conflict",
    "involved_parties": [
      "DRC Armed Forces (FARDC)",
      "M23",
      "ADF",
      "Rwanda (support)"
    ],
    "start_year": 1996,
    "status": "Escalating",
    "description": "Armed groups including M23 have intensified activities in the eastern region."
  }
]