From the invasion of Ukraine to today’s border ceasefire in Southeast Asia, the global security architecture has undergone a period of unprecedented strain.
Here are all the wars and conflicts that grabbed headlines in the year despite some of them beginning a few years ago.
November 2021: M23 Resurgence in DRC
In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the M23 rebel group launched a major offensive that continues to this day.
Allegations of Russian private military involvement and regional backing have complicated peace efforts, with heavy fighting reported near Uvira as recently as the morning of 27 December 2025.
24 February, 2022: The Invasion of Ukraine
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine remains the anchor of global instability. What began as a "special military operation" has evolved into a grinding war of attrition. By late 2025, the conflict is increasingly defined by long-range drone strikes on energy infrastructure, leaving both nations grappling with severe power shortages this winter.
14 April, 2023: Sudan’s Civil War
A power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) plunged Sudan into a catastrophic civil war.
Despite multiple rounds of talks, the country remains divided, with the RSF controlling much of the west and the SAF holding the east.
7 October, 2023: The Gaza War
The Hamas attacks on Israel triggered a two-year war that fundamentally altered Middle Eastern diplomacy. A final ceasefire and hostage-release agreement were only finalised on 10 October, 2025, leaving a devastated Gaza Strip under a tentative international transitional authority.
1 October 2024: The Lebanon Front
Following a year of cross-border fire, Israel launched a ground invasion into Southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah forces back from the border. The "hot" phase of the war ended with a withdrawal on 18 February, 2025, though the Blue Line remains the most heavily monitored border in the region.
5 May, 2025: Israel and Yemen
Seeking to end Houthi interference with global shipping, Israel and a coalition of allies launched five months of intensive strikes on Yemeni port infrastructure. The campaign reached a "frozen" status following the broader Gaza ceasefire in October.
7 May 2025: India and Pakistan
A three-day crisis between India and Pakistan erupted following a militant attack in Kashmir. The brief but intense conflict, involving significant aerial dogfights and missile exchanges, was halted on 10 May following urgent diplomatic intervention by the UN Security Council.
The 12-Day War U.S./Israel and Iran
Commonly known as the "12-Day War," Israel struck Iran on 13 June triggering the the first direct, large-scale confrontation between Israel and Iran. On 22 June, the U.S. joined the fray with Operation Midnight Hammer, using B-2 bombers to strike nuclear enrichment sites at Natanz and Fordow. The conflict ended on 25 June, resulting in a major recalibration of Iranian regional influence.
24 July, 2025: Thailand and Cambodia
The conflict erupted on 24 July with airstrikes and artillery duels over contested border temples, killing dozens and triggering a brief, unstable truce by month's end. Fighting erupted again on 8 December, reigniting heavy combat that displaced over one million people at its peak. After three weeks of intense warfare, a comprehensive ceasefire was finally signed on 27 December 2025, to end the hostilities and begin the repatriation of refugees.
9 October, 2025: Afghanistan and Pakistan
Pakistan conducted a series of targeted strikes against TTP militants inside Afghanistan, leading to a ten-day border war with Taliban forces. Fighting ceased on 19 October, though the border remains closed to commercial traffic.
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a Wh...
Britain said on Thursday that around 40 countries are exploring ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route effectively blocked...
American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led nav...
Former Kyrgyz MP Shairbek Tashiev has been detained in a corruption investigation linked to state oil firm Kyrgyzneftegaz, as the case expands to i...
France has unveiled a delayed wave of renewable energy tenders to boost energy independence and strengthen domestic and European industry....
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
Britain said on Thursday that around 40 countries are exploring ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route effectively blocked by Iran amid ongoing conflict. The U.S. did not take part in the discussions.
American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led naval mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Former Kyrgyz MP Shairbek Tashiev has been detained in a corruption investigation linked to state oil firm Kyrgyzneftegaz, as the case expands to include members of a powerful political family.
There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.
Russian-flagged tanker carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil docked at Cuba's Matanzas oil terminal on Tuesday, shipping data confirmed, marking a vital and controversial delivery to an island paralysed by severe energy shortages and a suffocating U.S. blockade.
A Russian military An-26 aircraft has crashed in Crimea, killing all 30 people on board, Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed.
Explosions were heard in the Syrian capital Damascus as Israeli air defences intercepted Iranian missiles, Syrian state television reported on Tuesday.
Amid ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tension, 2025 became a year defined not only by confrontation but also by a series of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing violence, easing humanitarian crises and opening paths to long-term stability.
In 2025, climate talks, security negotiations and trade diplomacy defined a year of high-level summits. Leaders met across continents to confront conflict, debate climate responsibility and shape global priorities. Some eased tensions, others exposed divisions, but all left their mark.
The year 2025 was marked by widespread protests and civil unrest across multiple regions, as citizens took to the streets to voice anger over political decisions, economic pressures, governance failures and social inequality.
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, has been hailed as one of the most significant gatherings in the bloc’s history.
The long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan over Kashmir reached a dangerous peak in 2025, as missile strikes, drone warfare, and rapid military escalation brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-scale war.
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