2026 major
conflicts
The year's major armed conflicts, each with a dated latest update and a 2026 timeline — from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan, Myanmar, the Sahel, and Mexico's cartel war, added as the tenth entry in September.
World map — conflict zones
Conflicts
Click to flyPlay the year — key events, January to September
50 key moments across the 10 conflicts, in chronological order. Press play or drag the scrubber; selecting an event flies to its conflict.
About 2026's major conflicts
Ten major armed conflicts are tracked through September 2026: Russia–Ukraine (grinding with a widened Russian air campaign against Kyiv's infrastructure), Gaza & the North (uneasy truce), Sudan's SAF vs. RSF war, the Myanmar civil war, the M23 conflict in eastern DRC, the Sahel insurgency (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), Haiti's gang crisis, Somalia vs. Al-Shabaab, Yemen and the Red Sea, and Mexico's cartel war — added in September 2026 after US Treasury sanctions on the Los Mayos network.
Which conflicts are tracked for 2026?
Ten: Russia–Ukraine, Gaza & the North, Sudan (SAF vs. RSF), Myanmar, Eastern DRC (M23), the Sahel, Haiti, Somalia, Yemen, and Mexico's cartel war.
What is the latest news on the Ukraine war?
As of September 30, 2026: Russia widened its air campaign to Kyiv's energy and digital infrastructure (data centres, substations, hydro and thermal plants), while Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps recaptured 176 km² in northern Donetsk in "Operation Vivaldi."
Why was Mexico's cartel conflict added?
It was added as the tenth entry in September 2026 after the US Treasury's OFAC sanctioned 21 individuals and 25 companies in the Los Mayos fentanyl-and-corruption network.
How often are the conflict updates refreshed?
Each conflict carries a dated "latest update" line; the set is reviewed regularly and refreshed when there is material news — the current batch is dated September 28–30, 2026.