The year 2025 recorded a record number of armed conflicts between countries, the highest since World War IIAccording to a report issued by the Peace Research Institute in Oslo Titled “Conflict Trends,” it also concluded that attacks against civilians have increased.
Last year witnessed 65 conflicts with the participation of at least one government party, the highest level since 1946.
Conflicts between countries reached their highest levels in 80 years, as their number doubled to eight, including border clashes between India andPakistanandAfghanistan andPakistanandCambodia andThailandIn addition to the Russian invasion ofUkraine and Israeli military operations in Syria.
Researcher Siri Ais Rustad said, “Unfortunately, there are not many positive things… Usually I find a positive side, but this year is shocking in terms of numbers.”
Last year was the third bloodiest year since the end of the Cold War, with about 245,000 deaths recorded as a result of direct battles or political violence, including the eradication of 76,500 people who were killed in attacks that directly targeted civilians, compared to 14,200 in the year 2024.
The study pointed out that the significant increase in the number of civilian casualties was caused by the ongoing conflict between… Sudanese army andRapid Support ForcesThe siege and massacres in the city of El Fasher resulted in Darfur region About 60 thousand deaths.
Since the end of the Cold War, the world has only witnessed higher levels of violence in 1994 and 2021, as a result of the genocide in Rwanda and the war in the Ethiopian Tigray region, respectively.
Raid on Tyre. (AFP)
Africa Most affected
Rustad said that for the past five or six years, the world has witnessed a number of major conflicts overlapping at the same time, one replacing the other without stopping.
She added, “The world is not getting any break… This is different from how it was before, as we are now witnessing a high and continuing level of conflicts globally.”
The Conflict Trends report is based on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), which is the world’s leading reference for documenting organized violence.
The report distinguishes between three main types of organized violence: conflicts involving at least one state, conflicts between non-state actors, and unilateral violence against civilians.
Africa remains the region most affected by conflicts involving states, with 29 conflicts recorded, followed by Asia andThe Middle East And the Americas andEurope.
Rustad explained that Israel It is considered “among the most militarily active countries at the present time,” noting its participation in several conflict arenas, including Gaza And Syria andLebanonIn addition to her confrontations with… Iran andThe Houthis.
And for USRustad considered the return of the president Donald Trump To power brought “not only more attacks and violence, but also an escalation in trade barriers.”
“We are limiting opportunities for cooperation… Security Council The international community is not working currently, and the world is heading towards greater polarization.”
