2015 World Conflict Guide: Middle East and Africa

December 29, 2014
Top: An Israeli AH-64 fires a missile and dispenses flares during Operation Protective Edge in July 2014. Credit: PressTV.
Bottom: A precision-guided Spike missile is fired from an Israeli navy patrol boat against land targets in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge. Credit: Israeli Defense Ministry.
Current Phase Began: 2008.
Nature: Hamas rocket and tunnel attacks, Israeli defensive missile operations and airstrikes.
Who's Involved: Israel versus Iran-backed Hamas. In 2013, Egypt joined the blockade of Gaza, but Hamas developed a domestic rocket industry and built attack tunnels using dual-use products.
Left: The Israel Defense Force’s Field Intelligence Corps made extensive use of lightweight RT SkyStar aerostats during operations against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Features such as a stabilizing skirt and a unique mooring platform make the SkyStar stable in windy conditions and easy to handle with a small crew. Credit: Israeli Defense Ministry.
Right: Secondary detonations indicate that an Israeli bomb dropped on Gaza set off a cache of explosive material. Credit: PressTV.
Current Phase Began: 2008.
Nature: Hamas rocket and tunnel attacks, Israeli defensive missile operations and airstrikes.
Who's Involved: Israel versus Iran-backed Hamas. In 2013 Egypt joined the blockade of Gaza, but Hamas developed a domestic rocket industry and built attack tunnels using dual-use products.
Current Phase Began: 1982.
Nature: Border tension.
Who's Involved: Israel versus Iran-backed Hezbollah. Increasing risk of Hezbollah-versus-Islamic State/Al Qaeda conflict inside Lebanon.
Current Phase Began: 2003.
Nature: Nuclear and missile development, proxy war.
Who's Involved: Iran versus Israel and U.S. EU3+3 countries (the U.K., Germany and France and the U.S., China and Russia) continuing to work on nuclear agreement. Iran continues technical and materiel support for Hamas and Hezbollah, against Israel and Islamic State.
Left: Airstrikes and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support have been the principal weapons brought to bear against Islamic State forces by the U.S. and its allies. Here, a French air force Dassault Rafale fighter prepares to refuel over Baghdad from a C-135FR tanker. It is carrying a Thales Damocles target designation pod and four laser-guided bombs, and one of the wingtip air-to-air missile stations is empty. Credit: French Defense Ministry
Right: Boeing B-1B bombers were among U.S. Air Force aircraft used against Islamic State forces in Iraq. Credit: U.S. Air Force/ Senior Airman Mary O'Dell.
Current Phase Began: 2003.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: Islamic State forces in control of large areas of Iraq and Syria. Opposed in Iraq by U.S. and allied airstrikes and assistance, and by Kurdish forces.
Current Phase Began: 2000.
Nature: Civil war, weapons of mass destruction.
Who's Involved: Islamic State forces in control of some areas. Destruction of chemical weapons facilities to continue through 2015. Assad regime, supported by Hezbollah, versus insurgents. Border tensions with Turkey and refugee flight into Lebanon. Rights groups say that 190,000 people have died.
Current Phase Began: 2009.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: U.S. drone strikes against Al Qaeda operations. Increasing violence between government and Houthi minority.
Current Phase Began: 2001.
Nature: Insurgency, narco-terrorism.
Who's Involved: NATO and U.S. forces were due to complete withdrawal from combat operations at the end of 2014. Up to 12,000 troops will remain in training and support roles.
Current Phase Began: 2011.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: Continuing Islamist insurgency against Egyptian government, centered on Gaza border and Sinai.
Current Phase Began: 2011.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: Islamic insurgents established government in Tripoli, with previous government located in Tobruz. Benghazi is disputed territory.
Current Phase Began: 2007.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: French forces continue to support Malian government in campaign against Al Qaeda and Taureg insurgents.
Current Phase Began: 1991.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: Continued U.S. drone strikes. Government and African Union forces apparently making progress against Al Shabaab insurgency.
Current Phase Began: 2003.
Nature: Piracy.
Who's Involved: International maritime task forces and actions against piracy on land continue to reduce piracy rates.
Current Phase Began: 2003.
Nature: Border tensions.
Who's Involved: Continued fighting between Addis Ababa government and rebel groups.
Two French army Eurocopter Tiger helicopters joined France’s Sangaris rapid reaction force in the Central African Republic in November 2014. The Sangaris force supports United Nations operations in the insurgency-battered nation. Credit: French Defense Ministry
Current Phase Began: 2012.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: Fighting continues between majority-Muslim and majority-Christian groups, with U.N. forces attempting to keep balance.
Current Phase Began: 1996.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: Pacification activities continue.
The French navy’s corvette F794 Jacoubet on patrol in the Gulf of Guinea in October 2014, as part of a pre-positioned French force that protects offshore resources and provides a base for contingency operations ashore. Credit: French Defense Ministry
Current Phase Began: 2000s.
Nature: Insurgency/Piracy.
Who's Involved: Boko Haram insurgency continues despite ceasefire attempts. Continued piracy in Gulf of Guinea.
Current Phase Began: 2003.
Nature: Insurgency.
Who's Involved: Continued stabilization.

Two major events of 2014 will continue to shape conflict in the Middle East and Africa in the coming year: the eruption of the Islamic State’s army in Syria and Iraq, and Israel’s attempt, in Operation Protective Edge, to eliminate the threat of rocket fire and tunnel attacks from Hamas in Gaza. In both cases, long-range sensors and guided weapons were used by one side, and improvised and lighter ordnance on the other. Meanwhile, radical Islamist forces were on the move in Africa.