Year Ender 2023: Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine- Global conflicts that marked a year of turmoil

The war isn't just looming over Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine. Nope, they're spreading like wildfire, hitting everywhere from Afghanistan to Yemen, Africa to Southeast Asia. Countries are caught up in a tangled mess of coups, violence, and inner turmoil. Over in Myanmar, experts are calling it a slow-burn civil war, and Central and South America? Well, they're still dealing with the fallout from drug-trade-fueled violence.

And that's not even the whole story. We've got nuclear buddies India and Pakistan side-eyeing each other, North Korea's stash of atomic goodies is growing, and Iran is cranking up its uranium enrichment program, inching closer to weapons-grade levels. Here's a closer look at in 2023:

Israel-Hamas Conflict
The Israel-Hamas conflict reached unprecedented levels of bloodshed following Hamas fighters' attack on October 7. Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu responded with a massive campaign of retaliatory airstrikes that has persisted for over two months, claiming thousands of lives.


Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Initiated by Vladimir Putin citing a NATO threat, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues despite reduced international attention. Ukraine's efforts to counter the offensive have faced challenges, including dug-in Russian troops, defense lines, minefields, and other hazards. The conflict saw a significant internal challenge to Putin's rule with the march on Moscow by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the private military firm Wagner, who later died in a mysterious plane crash.

Civil War in Africa
Sudan, teetering since the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, collapsed into civil war in April. The military faces off against a powerful paramilitary force, resulting in a conflict that has claimed around 9,000 lives. Across Africa, military coups persisted, with Niger and Gabon experiencing political upheaval.

Myanmar's Struggle Against Junta
In Myanmar, civil resistance clashes with the army following a coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Taliban in Afghanistan
Two years after the Taliban's takeover, Afghanistan faces militant attacks from an offshoot of the Islamic State group, while girls remain barred from secondary education.

Inputs from AFP