Editing 2000s (section)

==== International wars ====
[[File:War on Terror montage1.png|thumb|The [[war on terror]]]]
[[File:Iraq header 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Iraq War]]]]
[[File:Gazamontage.png|right|thumb|The [[Gaza War (2008–2009)]]]]
* [[War on terror]] (2001–present) – refers to several [[Ideology|ideological]], military, and diplomatic campaigns aimed at putting an end to [[international terrorism]] by preventing groups defined by the U.S. and its allies as [[terrorist groups|terrorist]] (mostly [[Islamism|Islamist]] groups such as [[al-Qaeda]], [[Hezbollah]], and [[Hamas]]) from posing a threat to the U.S. and its allies, and by putting an end to [[state-sponsored terrorism|state sponsorship of terrorism]]. The campaigns were launched by the United States, with support from [[NATO]] and other allies, following the [[September 11 attacks]] that were carried out by al-Qaeda. Today the term has become mostly associated with Bush administration-led wars in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]].
** [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]] – In 2001, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Australia [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|invaded]] [[Afghanistan]] seeking to oust the [[Taliban]] and find al-Qaeda mastermind [[Osama bin Laden]]. In 2011, the US government claimed [[Navy Seals]] had killed Bin Laden and buried his body at sea. Fatalities of coalition troops: 1,553 (2001 to 2009).<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. troops' death toll in Afghanistan doubles in 2009 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/28/content_12718088.htm |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |url-status=dead |access-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115060015/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/28/content_12718088.htm |archive-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref>
** [[Iraq War]] (2003–2011) – In 2003, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, and Poland [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invaded]] and occupied Iraq. Claims that Iraq had [[WMDs in Iraq|weapons of mass destruction]] at its disposal were later found to be unproven.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/13/alqaeda.saddam/ |work=CNN |title=Hussein's Iraq and al Qaeda not linked, Pentagon says |access-date=April 21, 2010 |date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429034736/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/13/alqaeda.saddam/ |archive-date=April 29, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The war, which ended the rule of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Ba'ath Party]], also led to violence against the coalition forces and between many [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] Iraqi groups and al-Qaeda [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq|operations in Iraq]]. [[Casualties of the Iraq War]]: Approximately 110,600 between March 2003 to April 2009. Hussein was eventually sentenced to death and hanged on December 30, 2006.
* [[Arab–Israeli conflict]] (1948 – present)
** [[2006 Lebanon War]] (summer 2006) – took place in southern [[Lebanon]] and northern [[Israel]]. The principal parties were [[Hezbollah]] paramilitary forces and the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]]. The war that began as a military operation in response to the abduction of two Israeli reserve soldiers by the Hezbollah gradually strengthened and became a wider confrontation.
** [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] (Early 20th century – present)
*** [[Second Intifada]] (2000–2005) – After the signing of the [[Oslo Accords]] failed to bring about a [[Palestinian state]], in September 2000, the [[Second Intifada]] (uprising) broke out, a period of intensified Palestinian-Israeli violence, which has been taking place until the present day. As a result of the significant increase of suicide bombing attacks within Israeli population centers during the first years of the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada]],<ref name="ISF">{{cite web |url=http://www.securityfence.mod.gov.il/Pages/ENG/questions.htm |title=Questions and Answers |access-date=April 17, 2007 |date=February 22, 2004 |work=Israel's Security Fence |publisher=The State of Israel |quote=The Security Fence is being built with the sole purpose of saving the lives of the Israeli citizens who continue to be targeted by the terrorist campaign that began in 2000. The fact that over 800 men, women and children have been killed in horrific suicide bombings and other terror attacks clearly justifies the attempt to place a physical barrier in the path of terrorists.... terrorism has been defined throughout the international community as a crime against humanity. As such, the State of Israel not only has the right but also the obligation to do everything in its power to lessen the impact and scope of terrorism on the citizens of Israel. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003072906/http://www.securityfence.mod.gov.il/Pages/ENG/questions.htm |archive-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref> in June 2002 Israel began the construction of the [[Israeli West Bank barrier|West Bank Fence]] along the [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]] border arguing that the barrier is necessary to protect Israeli civilians from [[Palestinian political violence|Palestinian terrorism]]. The significantly reduced number of incidents of suicide bombings from 2002 to 2005 has been partly attributed to the barrier.<ref name="McClatchy">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/dion_nissenbaum/story/15469.html |title=Death toll of Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians hit a low in 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2007 |last=Nissenbaum |first=Dion |date=January 10, 2007 |work=Washington Bureau |publisher=McClatchy Newspapers |quote=Fewer Israeli civilians died in Palestinian attacks in 2006 than in any year since the Palestinian uprising began in 2000. Palestinian militants killed 23 Israelis and foreign visitors in 2006, down from a high of 289 in 2002 during the height of the uprising. Most significant, successful suicide bombings in Israel nearly came to a halt. Last year, only two Palestinian suicide bombers managed to sneak into Israel for attacks that killed 11 people and wounded 30 others. Israel has gone nearly nine months without a suicide bombing inside its borders, the longest period without such an attack since 2000[...] An Israeli military spokeswoman said one major factor in that success had been Israel's controversial separation barrier, a still-growing {{Convert|250|mi|km |adj=on}} network of concrete walls, high-tech fencing and other obstacles that cuts through parts of the West Bank. ‘The security fence was put up to stop terror, and that's what it's doing,' said Capt. Noa Meir, a spokeswoman for the Israel Defense Forces. [...] Opponents of the wall grudgingly acknowledge that it has been effective in stopping bombers, though they complain that its route should have followed the border between Israel and the Palestinian territories known as the Green Line. [...] IDF spokeswoman Meir said Israeli military operations that disrupted militants planning attacks from the West Bank also deserved credit for the drop in Israeli fatalities. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120203241/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/dion_nissenbaum/story/15469.html |archive-date=November 20, 2008}}</ref> The barrier's construction, which has been highly controversial, became a significant issue of contention between the two sides. The Second Intifada has caused thousands of victims on both sides, both among combatants and among civilians – The death toll, including both military and civilian, is estimated to be 5,500 Palestinians and over 1,000 Israelis, as well as 64 foreign citizens.<ref>[http://www.btselem.org/English/Statistics/Casualties.asp ''B'Tselem – Statistics – Fatalities''], [[B'Tselem]]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202225031/http://www.btselem.org/English/Statistics/Casualties.asp|date=December 2, 2010 }}</ref> Many Palestinians consider the Second Intifada to be a legitimate war of national liberation against foreign occupation, whereas many Israelis consider it to be a terrorist campaign.<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/11/Israel-+the+Conflict+and+Peace-+Answers+to+Frequen+-+2003.htm#cause "Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to FAQ."] ''[[Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]''. November 3, 2003. April 20, 2009. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006064017/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/11/Israel-+the+Conflict+and+Peace-+Answers+to+Frequen+-+2003.htm#cause|date=October 6, 2013 }}</ref>
*** [[Gaza War (2008–2009)]] – the frequent [[Hamas]] [[Qassam rocket]] and [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] fire launched from within civilian population centers in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] towards the Israeli southern civilian communities led to an Israeli [[military operation]] in Gaza, which had the stated aim of reducing the Hamas rocket attacks and stopping the arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip. Throughout the conflict, Hamas further intensified its rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, hitting civilian targets and reaching major Israeli cities [[Beersheba]] and [[Ashdod]], for the first time. The intense [[urban warfare]] in densely populated [[Gaza City|Gaza]] combined with the use of massive firepower by the Israeli side<ref name="BBC 2010-01-29">{{cite news |title=Goldstone report: Israel and Palestinians respond to UN |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8487301.stm |access-date=January 27, 2011 |work=BBC |date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215014012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8487301.stm |archive-date=December 15, 2013}}</ref> and the intensified Hamas rocket attacks towards populated Israeli civilian targets led to a high toll on the Palestinian side and among civilians.<ref name="PCHRCASFIG">{{cite press release |title=Confirmed figures reveal the true extent of the destruction inflicted upon the Gaza Strip; Israel's offensive resulted in 1,417 dead, including 926 civilians, 255 police officers, and 236 fighters. |publisher=Palestinian Centre for Human Rights |date=March 19, 2009 |url=http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/36-2009.html |access-date=March 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201173858/http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/36-2009.html |archive-date=February 1, 2010}}</ref>
* The [[Second Congo War]] (1998–2003) – took place mainly in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. The widest interstate war in [[History of Africa#1951 – present|modern African history]], it directly involved nine African nations, as well as about twenty armed groups. It earned the [[epithet]] of "Africa's World War" and the "Great War of Africa." An estimated 3.8 million people died, mostly from starvation and disease brought about by the deadliest conflict since World War II. Millions more were [[displaced person|displaced]] from their homes or sought [[refugee|asylum]] in neighboring countries.
* [[Russo-Georgian War]] (2008) – Russia invaded [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] in response to Georgian aggression towards civilians and attack on South Ossetia. Both Russia and Georgia were condemned internationally for their actions.
* The [[Second Chechen War]] (1999–2000) – the war was launched by the [[Russia]] on August 26, 1999, in response to the [[War in Dagestan (1999)|war in Dagestan]] and the [[1999 Russian apartment bombings]], which were blamed on the [[Chechen Republic of Ichkeria|Chechens]]. During the war, Russian forces largely recaptured the separatist region of [[Chechnya]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2009-04-16 |title=Chechnya and Russia: timeline |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/16/chechnya-russia-timeline |access-date=2024-05-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The campaign largely reversed the outcome of the [[First Chechen War]], in which the region gained ''de facto'' independence as the [[Chechen Republic of Ichkeria]].
* The [[Eritrean–Ethiopian War]] came to a close in 2000.
* [[Kivu conflict]] (2004–2009) – armed conflict between the [[military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (FARDC) and the [[Hutu Power]] group [[Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda]] (FDLR).
* [[2009 Boko Haram uprising]] – an armed conflict between [[Boko Haram]], a militant [[Islamist]] group, and [[Nigeria]]n security forces.