List of battles since 2001

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21st century

2001

• • Battle of Mazar-e-Sharif - 9 November - United States and Northern Alliance forces defeat Taliban forces in the city as part of the U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan.
  • Battle of Herat - 12 November - Special Operations Forces of the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran assist the Afghan Northern Alliance in seizing Herat from the Taliban amidst a coordinated insurrection and local uprising.
  • Battle of Tora Bora - 12 December - 17 December - United States and Northern Alliance forces besiege Al-Qaida forces. Presumably, Osama bin Laden was present, but escaped.

2002

• • Battle of Shah-e-Kot - 1 March - 18 March - The largest land battle between US forces and Taliban militia ends in an unsuccessful US attempt to dislodge the Taliban from their mountain strongholds
  • Operation Defensive Shield 29 March - 3 May - Israeli operation in the West Bank, aimed to halt Palestinian suicide bombings against civilians in Israel during the Second Intifada, which results in extensive damage to terrorist infrastructure and an important decrease of Palestinian attacks:
    • Battle of Jenin - 3 April - 11 April - Israel attacks Palestinian militants in the city of Jenin.
    • Battle of Bethlehem - 2 April - 10 May - Israel occupies Bethlehem and tries to capture wanted Palestinian militants who are hiding in the Church of the Nativity.
    • Battle of Nablus - 5 April - 8 May - Israel attacks Palestinian militants in the city of Nablus.

2003

• • Battle of Nasiriyah - 23 March - 29 March - American armored and mechanized units force a crossing over the Euphrates River, despite stiff resistance from the Iraqis.
  • Battle of Najaf - 26 March - 3 April - The American 327th Infantry Regiment defeats the Iraqis and takes the city, allowing them to protect vital supply lines for Coalition forces.
  • Battle of Karbala - 27 March - 28 March - The American 3rd Infantry Division fights Iraq's elite Republican Guard, resulting in 200 Iraqi casualties.
  • Battle of Baghdad - 3 April - 12 April - American forces capture the Iraqi capital from Saddam Hussein's forces, causing the downfall of his government.
  • Battle of Basra - 6 April - British forces manage to secure the city after a month of some of the fiercest fighting since the outbreak of the war.
  • Battle of Debecka Pass - 6 April - The Americans capture a major crossroad near the village of Debecka in Iraq.

2004

• • Battle of Wana - 16 March - 23 March - Part of the Waziristan War, Pakistani army takes over Taliban positions.
  • First Battle of Fallujah - 4 April - 1 May - Also called Operation Vigilant Resolve; United States forces attempt to retake Fallujah from the control of Iraqi insurgency, resulting a ceasefire and American withdrawal.
  • Battle of Najaf - 5 April - August - Fighting breaks out in a cemetery near the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf between United States forces and the Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr.
  • Operation Rainbow - 18 May - 23 May - First mayor Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, aimed at preventing a shipment of Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail) shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, AT-3 Sagger anti-tank guided missiles and other long-range rockets which are stored on the Egyptian side of the border from being smuggled through tunnels into the Gaza Strip.
  • Operation Days of Penitence - 30 September- 16 October - Israeli offensive launched into the northern Gaza Strip, resulting in 5 Israeli and 104-133 Palestinian casualties. Israel claims victory after stating its goal of preventing Palestinian Militants from firing Qassam rockets into Israeli settlements in Gaza and at the town of Sderot.
  • Second Battle of Fallujah- 7 November - 23 December - Also known as Operation Phantom Fury and Operation al-Fajr; United States forces recapture rebel-held Fallujah in the largest post-invasion clash so far in the war.

2005

• • Battle of Al Qaim - 8 May - 19 May - Military offensive conducted by the United States Marine Corps, against insurgent positions in Iraq's northwestern Anbar province , ended with US strategic victory , Called Operation Matador by U.S.
  • Battle of Nalchik (13 October) - Muslim terrorists take on Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia. They are defeated by Russian security forces.
  • Second Battle of Adre - 18 December - Rally for Democracy and Liberty attack the government garrison at Adre, Chad. The garrison has been forewarned, and slaughters their attackers, taking few casualties.

2006

• • Battle of N'Djamena (13 April) - The Chadian rebel group United Front for Democratic Change attacks the capital city of Chad. The rebels are forced to retreat by the Military of Chad. Chad breaks off relations with Sudan as a result.
  • Second Battle of Mogadishu (7 May) - (5 June) - Militia loyal to the Islamic court union defeats the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism and takes control of the Somali capital Mogadishu.
  • Operation Mountain Thrust (15 May- 31 July) - The largest offensive against the Taliban since 2001 is launched by American, British, Canadian, and Afghan forces.
  • Operation Together Forward (14 June-24 October) - The Coalition is unsuccessful in succuring Baghdad and reduce violence.
  • Operation Summer Rains (began 28 June) - Israel enters the Gaza Strip searching for soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted in a raid.
  • Zar'it-Shtula incident (12 July) - A cross-border Hezbollah raid captures two Israeli soldiers. Israeli troops enters Lebanon in an unsuccessful attempt to get them back. This ignites the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.
  • Battle of Habbaniyah (began 15 July 2006-December 2006) U.S. Marines of the Third Battalion, Second Marine Division, sweep through urban sprawl between Ramadi and Fallujah in a series of operations (i.e. Operations Rubicon and Sidewinder), disrupting flow of Al Quaeda into both cities, and killng and capturing over 300 insurgents. Action centered around Kilo Company, nick-named "Voodoo", in the town of Husaybah, on the outskirts of Ramadi, killing 20+ insurgents and capturing/wounding 137, while losing only 4 Marines KIA, 17 WIA. The battalion lost 14 Marines KIA, 50+ WIA.
  • Battle of Bint Jbail (24 July- 11 August) - Israel retreats after attempting to take the town of Bint Jbail in Lebanon, regarding it as a "Hezbollah stronghold".
  • Battle of Ayta ash-Shab (31 July-11 August) Israel engages in a firefight with Hezbollas in the Lebanese town of Ayta ash-Shab.
  • Operation Sharp and Smooth (1 August- 2 August) An Israeli airborne operation captures five Lebenese civilians and kills what it claims to be Hezbolla members.
  • 2006 Tyre raid (4 August) Israel raids Tyre to attack Hezbollah members based there.
  • 2006 Litani offensive (11 August- 14 August) Israel launches the final offensive in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict to clear Southern Lebanon of as many Hezbolla militants as possible before the ceasefire takes effect. The battle and war end with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
  • Operation Medusa (2 September- 17 September) NATO troops attacks the Taliban insurgency.
  • Operation Mountain Fury (16 September 2006 - 15 January 2007) Coalition forces launch a follow up to Operation Medusa in an attempt to clear eastern Afghanistan of the Taliban.
  • Battle of Baidoa (20 December-26 December) ICU militia battle the Somali Transitional Federal Government around the last Government stronghold of Baidoa in Somalia. Ethiopian and TFG troops successfully defended and counterattacked against the ICU taking the ICU base cities of Dinsoor and Bur Hakaba.
  • Battle of Bandiradley (23 December-25 December) Ethiopian/Puntland offensive in Bandiradley, Somalia pushes the Islamic Courts out of the city and opens up a northern front in the Somali Civil War.
  • Battle of Beledweyne (24 December-25 December) Ethiopian offensive towards the city of Jowhar overruns the Islamic Courts stronghold of Beledweyne during the Somali Civil War.
  • Battle of Jowhar (27 December) Ethiopian/TFG armoured offensive hits the ICU stronghold of Jowhar, forcing the Islamists to pull back, and bringing the Ethiopians/Government troops within 90 km of Mogadishu. The battle also effectively flanked and threatened to cut off ICU forces still in the Bay region.
  • Ethiopia captures Mogadishu (28 December).

2007

• • Battle of Ras Kamboni - 5 January - 12 January - Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ethiopian forces launch an attack against the town, which is being used as a training camp for Islamic terrorists. The United States also participates by launching airstrikes from an AC-130 gunship against suspected Al-Qaeda members operating within the ranks of the Islamic Courts Union. The town falls to the Ethiopians and TFG after about a week of fighting.
  • Battle of Najaf (2007) in Iraq.
  • Operation Law and Order - 14 February - 24 November - US troops battle Iraqi insurgents to restore law and order in Baghdad.
  • Battle of Mogadishu (2007) in Somalia. 21 March - 26 April
  • Operation Achilles - 6 May - 30 May - NATO operations in Afghanistan to clear the Helmand Province of Taliban terrorists.
  • Battle of Nahr el-Bared - Armed conflict after Fatah al-Islam, an Islamist militant organization, lays siege to the refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared for Palestinians inLebanon .May 20 - September 7, 2007
  • Battle of Gaza (2007) - 7 June - 15 June - Hamas defeats Fatah, and takes over the Gaza Strip.
  • Battle of Chora in Afghanistan between 15 June - 19 June - NATO captures Chora District in Oruzgan Province, from the Taliban.
  • Battle of Musa Qala, 7 December - 12 December in Afghanistan - NATO captures Musa Qala District in Helmand Province, from the Taliban.
  • Battle of Thoppigala, 25 April - 11 June in Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka Army captures Toppigala Jungle in Estern Province, from the LTTE.

2008

• • Battle of the Forward Defence Lines - 2 January - 24 November - 2008 SLA Northern Offensive in Sri Lanka
  • Battle of N'Djamena - 2 February – 4 February - Forces loyal to the President of Chad defeat a rebellion.
  • Operation Hot Winter - 29 February - 3 March - Israel Defense Forces campaign in the Gaza Strip in response to Qassam rockets fired by Hamas.
  • 2008 Mardakert skirmishes - 4 March - Skirmishes between the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan
  • Battle of Basra - 25 March - 31 March - Iraqi Army attempt to clear the city of Basra from Mahdi Army militiamen is successful and the Maliki government forces them to cease activities.
  • 2008 attack on Omdurman and Khartoum - 10 May - 12 May - The Darfuri rebel group Justice and Equality Movement attack the Sudanese cities of Omdurman and Khartoum.
  • 2008 Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict - 10 June - 13 June - Minor skirmishes between Djibouti and Eritrea.
  • Battle of Arghandab - 18 June - 19 June - NATO led forces launch an offensive to clear the Taliban out of Arghandab district and from nearby Kandahar.
  • Battle of Wanat - 13 July - Significant American casualties among the defending paratroopers leads to American withdrawal following Taliban early morning attack.
  • Battle of Tskhinvali - 8 August - 10 August - Georgians attack the South Ossetian city of Tskhinvali.
  • Battle of the Kodori Gorge - 9 August - 12 August - Georgian civilians flee their homes in Upper Abkhazia. Georgian military engages Abkhazian military forces.
  • Battle of Goma- 25 October - Part of the ongoing 2008 Nord-Kivu war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Operation Cast Lead- 27 December - 13 January. Israel launches an air and ground operation to stop Hamas from launching of Qassam and Grad rockets from the Gaza Strip.

2009

• • Battle of Mullaitivu- 2 January- 25 January. The Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers battle over the town of Mullaitivu.
  • Battle of Chalai- February 2 - 6. Sri Lankan Army battles Tamil Tigers to capture one of the last Sea Tiger naval bases.
  • Battle of Am Dam May 7 and May 8: between rebels and Chadian Army.
  • Second Battle of Swat The Pakistani army retakes the town of Mingora from the Taliban