Israeli air defence systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early on June 18, 2025. PIC/AFP
Iran-Israel conflict
In 2025, tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into a series of targeted strikes and proxy clashes. Israel accused Iran of backing attacks on its territory through allied militias in Lebanon and Syria, while Iran condemned Israeli operations in Syria and Gaza. The conflict saw intermittent airstrikes, cyberattacks, and military mobilisations along the borders, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation. Both countries continued to exchange threats, with the international community urging restraint and highlighting the risk to civilians in the contested areas. FILE PIC
India-Pakistan War
India and Pakistan were pushed into a short but intense war in 2025 following Operation Sindoor, a major Indian military offensive launched in response to a high-casualty terror attack attributed to Pakistan-based militants in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation marked a decisive shift from limited strikes to sustained, multi-domain military action. FILE PIC
Russia-Ukraine War
The Russia–Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, continued to shape global geopolitics through 2025. The war has seen intense fighting along eastern and southern Ukraine, including the Donbas region, with both sides launching missile, drone and artillery strikes. PIC/AFP
Sudan War
Since its outbreak in April 2023, the war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly 12 million. At the end of October, the paramilitary group seized control El-Fasher, the conclusion of a bitter 18-month siege for the strategic hub in western Sudan's Darfur region and marked by reports of mass killings and sexual violence. PIC/AFP
Thailand-Cambodia border tensions
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia resurfaced in 2025 over their long-running border dispute, particularly around areas near the Preah Vihear temple complex and other contested stretches along the frontier. While not escalating into a full-scale war, the standoff involved heightened military deployments, sharp diplomatic exchanges and sporadic incidents along the border. FILE PIC
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