A ceasefire isn’t the same as an ended war. Gaza’s has held since October 2025, but disarmament terms were still being negotiated nearly a year later. This article covers the world’s major ongoing conflicts and flashpoints, as they stand in 2026.
Timeline
- 24 February 2022: Russia invades Ukraine, starting a war still unresolved as of 2026.
- April 2023: Sudan’s civil war begins between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
- 9 October 2025: Israel and Hamas sign a phase-one Gaza ceasefire under a 20-point peace plan.
- 31 July 2026: The Board of Peace announces a Hamas disarmament roadmap, launching Gaza’s “phase two.”
Must Know
- As of 2026, major ongoing conflicts include the Russia-Ukraine war (since 24 February 2022), the Sudan civil war (since April 2023), and the aftermath of the Gaza war, now under a fragile ceasefire.
- Approximately 56 active armed conflicts exist worldwide as of 2026.
- On 9 October 2025, Israel and Hamas signed a phase-one ceasefire agreement, including hostage releases and a partial Israeli withdrawal to an agreed “Yellow Line.”
- On 31 July 2026, mediators (Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, the US) and the Board of Peace announced a Hamas disarmament agreement, launching “phase two” of the Gaza peace process.
Good to Know
- The Russia-Ukraine war has caused 500,000+ casualties since it began. The US has attempted to broker peace, with talks held in Abu Dhabi, but a deal remains elusive.
- Sudan’s civil war has killed over 150,000 people and displaced more than 10 million, with no clear end in sight.
- Under Gaza’s phase-two roadmap, Hamas must hand over heavy weapons and tunnel networks, with disarmament tied to a phased Israeli withdrawal.
- Other significant flashpoints in 2026 include the Yemen/Red Sea crisis, the Congo war (M23 and eastern DRC), and Syria’s fragmented civil conflict.
Test Yourself
Great to Know
- A ceasefire isn’t the same as a resolved conflict. Gaza’s ceasefire held from October 2025, but disarmament terms stayed contested nearly a year later, and deaths continued to be reported after the truce.
- Multiple overlapping mediators — Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US — reflect how modern conflict resolution increasingly relies on regional coalitions, not single-power brokerage.
- Conflicts like Sudan’s receive far less sustained global attention than Gaza or Ukraine, despite a comparable or greater humanitarian toll — a recurring pattern in how conflicts get international coverage.
- This topic moves fast. Any exam-prep answer on “current” global conflicts needs re-verification close to the exam date, not a one-time memorised list.
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