The yr 2025 has cemented its place in historical past as a yr outlined by widespread battle, with the continued Cambodia-Thailand border dispute marking the sixth main confrontation to rock the globe. From South Asia to the Center East and Africa, these wars have claimed thousands and thousands of lives, lowered cities to rubble, and despatched world arms gross sales skyrocketing.
The most recent armed battle between Cambodia and Thailand in response to their power border battle, particularly across the historic Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom temples, is the most recent sizzling spot in a unstable yr. The next is a abstract of the destruction, lack of life, infrastructure harm, and elevated arms commerce noticed in six main conflicts.
1. India-Pakistan Battle (2025)
What Occurred?: On seventh Could 2025, India carried out missile strikes in “Operation Sindoor” in opposition to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba terror targets inside Pakistan. It was a retaliatory strike in response to a terror assault in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on twenty second April 2025, that left 26 civilians useless. Pakistan additionally struck again and claimed it to be an act of struggle, utilizing drones, missiles, and fighter plane. A ceasefire was later referred to as on tenth Could.
Devastation And Casualties:
India: 16 civilians killed, together with 5 kids in Poonch. Homes, a Hindu temple, and infrastructure have been broken on account of shelling in Jammu, Srinagar, Poonch, and Rajouri. 1000’s of individuals have been pushed out of border cities in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.
Pakistan: 40 civilians killed (7 ladies, 15 kids) and 11 troopers killed. Greater than 100 terrorists have been allegedly killed. Harm was achieved in Muridke, Bahawalpur, and 11 airfields (like Suratgarh and Sirsa). Individuals from Lahore and Sialkot took shelter in safer locations.
Arms Gross sales and Evaluation: India made use of Rafale plane, BrahMos missiles, S-400 air protection programs, and Israel-India drones. Pakistan used JF-17 plane (Chinese language), Shahed-136 drones (Iranian), and 122mm rockets. This struggle fueled an estimated $5-10 billion extra arms spending, with excessive demand for drones and missile programs.
2. Cambodia-Thailand Battle (2025)
What Occurred: On July 24, 2025, Thailand carried out F-16 assaults on Cambodian navy installations following Cambodia launching assaults with drones and rockets. The combating revolves round a longstanding border dispute over the areas surrounding the Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom temples.
Destruction And Deaths:
Thailand: 14 killed (13 civilians, 1 soldier) and 46 wounded. Fuel stations, a hospital, and the Preah Vihear temple within the provinces of Sisaket and Surin have been stated to have been broken. The estimated displaced individuals have been between 40,000 and 100,000.
Cambodia: There are claims of 20 fatalities, though this isn’t confirmed. Army camps and Pagoda Street in Oddar Meanchey have been stated to have been destroyed.
Arms Gross sales and Evaluation: Thailand utilized primarily F-16 jets (from the US) and SAAB Gripen plane. Cambodia used BM-21 rockets (from China/Russia). The struggle has indicated a better demand for drones and rocket programs within the area.
3. Ukraine-Russia Struggle (2022-2025)
What Occurred?: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022 and nonetheless rages on into 2025 on account of geopolitical tensions concerning growth of NATO and power assets.
Devastation And Casualties: Over 10,000 civilians have died, alongside an estimated 500,000 troopers (350,000 Russian, 150,000 Ukrainian), with figures persevering with to rise in 2025. Roughly 70% of Ukraine’s infrastructure, together with faculties and hospitals, has been destroyed, and hundreds of buildings in cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv have collapsed. The struggle has displaced 12 million individuals, with 5 million changing into refugees.
Arms Gross sales And Evaluation: Russia used S-400 air protection programs, T-90 tanks, and Kamikaze drones. Ukraine has used Javelin missiles, Bayraktar drones, and HIMARS. Between 2022 and 2024, greater than $80 billion value of weapons was bought, which portrays the large quantity of navy purchases.
4. Israel-Hamas Struggle (2023-2025)
What Occurred?: Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault led to Israeli retaliatory strikes in opposition to Gaza, precipitating a struggle ongoing in 2025 and worsening a dire humanitarian disaster.
Harm And Loss Of Life
Gaza: Greater than 43,000 fatalities (70% of which have been ladies and kids) and over 100,000 wounded. As much as 80% of Gaza’s buildings have been leveled, together with UNRWA faculties and Al-Shifa Hospital. A complete of two million (90% of Gaza’s inhabitants) have been displaced, of which 50% of kids are experiencing malnutrition.
Israel: 1,200 fatalities and three,000 accidents recorded in 2023.
Arms Gross sales and Evaluation: Israel has deployed F-35 fighter plane and the Iron Dome missile protection system. Hamas has used rockets and drones (supposedly from Iran). The struggle has fueled greater than $10 billion in arms gross sales.
5. Sudan Civil Struggle (2023-2025)
What Occurred?: A violent civil struggle between the Fast Assist Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Military broke out in April 2023 and continues into 2025.
Devastation and Losses: Greater than 20,000 people misplaced their lives, and 33,000 have been wounded. An estimated 60% of the buildings in Darfur and Khartoum have been broken. 10 million individuals have been displaced and 25 million are experiencing excessive starvation.
Arms Gross sales and Evaluation: Drones (from UAE and Russia) have been bought by the RSF, whereas the Sudanese Military employed tanks and artillery (China and Egypt). A complete of $5 billion in arms are estimated to have been bought.
6. Iran-Pakistan Tensions (2024-2025)
What Occurred?: Iran carried out a counterattack in opposition to Jaish al-Adl militant targets in Pakistan in January 2024. Pakistan retaliated with counterattacks.
Devastation and Casualties: About 20 people, principally militants, have been killed. Balochistan’s villages and militant camps have been destroyed. 1000’s of people have been displaced.
Arms Gross sales and Evaluation: Iran used Shahed-136 drones, and Pakistan used JF-17 plane. The elevated tensions yielded an estimated $2 billion in arms gross sales.
What It Means For India?
These widespread conflicts have critical implications for India:
Regional Stability: The India-Pakistan dispute has elevated tensions in South Asia that might have an effect on India’s Chabahar Port mission and Act East Coverage. Instability attributable to the Cambodia-Thailand dispute may additionally affect ASEAN and India’s bigger international coverage objectives.
Arms Race: The worldwide uptick in demand for drones, AI-driven weapons, and superior missile programs highlights the altering face of warfare. This requires India’s sustained curiosity in indigenous growth of protection capabilities, together with the Tejas fighter plane, subtle drones, and the procurement of programs just like the S-400.
Humanitarian Disaster: The unfolding humanitarian crises in Gaza and Sudan with unprecedented mass displacement and famine are classes India should heed to reinforce its catastrophe administration and humanitarian reduction capabilities much more.