This list includes wars and conflicts involving Italy since the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on 17 March 1861, but does not include wars fought by the historic states of Italy. The result of these conflicts follows this legend:
The Risorgimento movement emerged to unite Italy in the 19th century. Piedmont-Sardinia took the lead in a series of wars to liberate Italy from foreign control. Following three Wars of Italian Independence against the Habsburg Austrians in the north, the Expedition of the Thousand against the Spanish bourbons in the south, and the Capture of Rome, the unification of the country was completed in 1871 when Rome was declared capital of Italy.
Start | Finish | Name of conflict | Belligerents | Outcome | Combatant 1 | Combatant 2 |
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1885 | 1895 | Eritrean War[1] | Kingdom of Italy}} | Ethiopian Empire|old}} {{flagicon image|Flag of Mahdist Revolt.svg}} Mahdist Sudan | Italian victory, establishment of Italian Eritrea. |
1889 | 1920 | Pacification of Somalia[2] | Kingdom of Italy}} | Various rebels Dervish State | Italian victory, consolidation of Italian Somaliland. |
1890 | 1894 | Mahdist War | Kingdom of Italy}} | Flag of Mahdist Revolt.svg}} Mahdist Sudan | Italian victory All Sudanese invasions repulsed Italians take Kassala |
1895 | 1896 | First Italo-Ethiopian War | Kingdom of Italy}} | Ethiopian Empire|old}} | Ethiopian victory, Treaty of Addis Ababa:- Ethiopia recognised as independent country by Italy.
- Italy abrogates the Treaty of Wuchale.
|
1899 | 1901 | Boxer Rebellion | British Empire}} United Kingdom {{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}} {{flagcountry|Russian Empire}} {{flagicon|France}} France {{flag|United States|1896}} {{flagcountry|German Empire}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flag|Austria-Hungary}} | Yihetuan flag.png}}Righteous Harmony Society {{flag|Qing Dynasty|name=Manchu-China}} | Allied victory, Boxer Protocol:- Anti-foreign societies banned in China.
- Italy obtains the Italian concession of Tientsin
|
1902 | 1903 | Venezuelan naval blockade | United Kingdom}} United Kingdom {{flagicon|German Empire}} Germany {{flagicon|Italy|1861}} Italy | Venezuela|1863}} Venezuela | Compromise- Venezuelan debt dispute resolved
|
1911 | 1912 | Italo-Turkish War | Kingdom of Italy}} | Ottoman Empire}} | Italian victory:- Italy gains Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, Fezzan and the Dodecanese Islands.
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1914 | 1918 | World War I: | Kingdom of Italy}} {{flagicon|British Empire}} United Kingdom {{flag|British Raj|name=Indian Empire}} {{flag|Canada|1868|name=Dominion of Canada}} {{flag|Australia}} {{flag|New Zealand}} {{flagcountry|Union of South Africa|1912}} {{flag|Newfoundland}} {{flag|Belgium|state}} {{flag|France}} {{flagcountry|Russian Empire}} {{flag|Japan}} {{flagicon|United States of America|1912}} United States {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Serbia}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Greece}} Other Allies | Austria-Hungary}} {{flagcountry|German Empire}} {{flag|Ottoman Empire}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Bulgaria}} | Italian victory:- Destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Annexation of Trentino-Alto Adige, Gorizia and Gradisca, Istria, Trieste, Zara and the Julian March to the Kingdom of Italy.
- Armistice of Villa Giusti
- Treaty of Versailles:
- German demobilisation
Russia pulls out in 1917 - Russian Civil War
- Creation of the Soviet Union
- Josef V. Stalin Rises to power
Creation of League of Nations |
1918 | 1920 | Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War | United Kingdom}} British Empire {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flagicon|France}} France {{flag|United States|1912}} {{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Greece}} | Russian SFSR|1918|name=Soviet Russia}} {{flag|Far Eastern Republic}} | Bolshevik victory:- White Army defeated
- Allied withdrawal from Russia
- Soviet Union new Russian Power.
|
1918 | 1923 | Occupation of Constantinople | UKGBI}} {{flagcountry|French Third Republic}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}} | Ottoman Empire}} | Allied victory- Constantinople Military occupation by the United Kingdom, followed by France and Italy, then abandoned.
- Britain officially dismantled the Ottoman Empire parliament on 16 March 1920 and restored it on 9 September 1922 to the Ankara Government
|
1920 | 1920 | Vlora War | Kingdom of Italy}} | Albania|1914}} Principality of Albania | Albanian victory, Italy withdraws from Albania. |
1920 | 1920 | Bloody Christmas | Kingdom of Italy}} | Reggenza Italiana del Carnaro.png}} Italian Regency of Carnaro | Italian victory:- Expulsion of D'Annunzio's forces.
- Conquest of the Italian Regency of Carnaro.
- Independence of the Free State of Fiume.
|
1923 | 1932 | Pacification of Libya | Kingdom of Italy}} | Flag of Cyrenaica.svg}} Senussi Order | Italian victory:- Stabilization of Italian rule in Libya.
- Ethnic cleansing of the Cyrenaican indigenous population.
- Mass deaths of Cyrenaican indigenous civilians.
|
1924 | 1927 | Pacification of Italian Somaliland | Kingdom of Italy}} | Somali rebels | Italian victory:- All-out defeat of Somali rebels
- The independent Majeerteen Sultanate is brutally suppressed in 1927, finalizing the Italian occupation of Somalia.
|
1924 | 1940 | Italian conquest of the Horn of Africa | Kingdom of Italy}} | Coat of arms of Hobyo.svg}} Sultanate of Hobyo {{flagicon image|Majeerteen sultanate coat of arms.png}} Majeerteen Sultanate {{flag|Ethiopian Empire}} {{flagcountry|British Empire}} | Italian victory:- Italian conquest of the Horn of Africa.
|
1935 | 1936 | Second Italo-Abyssinian War | Kingdom of Italy}}- Italian Eritrea
- Italian Somaliland
| Ethiopian Empire}} | Italian victory:- Debellation of Ethiopia, foundation of Italian East Africa.
|
1936 | 1939 | Spanish Civil War | Spain|1938}} Nationalist {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} {{flagdeco|Portugal}} Portugal Foreign volunteers | Spanish Republic}} Republican {{flagicon image|Flag of the International Brigades.svg}} Foreign volunteers {{flag|Soviet Union|1936}} (1936–1938) {{flag|Mexico|1934}} | Nationalist victory:- Defeat of the Second Spanish Republic
- Beginning of Franco's dictatorship
|
1939 | 1939 | Invasion of Albania | Kingdom of Italy}} | Albania|1934}} Albania | Italian victory, Italian occupation of Albania. |
1939 | 1945 | World War II/Italian Civil War | Axis Powers{{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}} {{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}} {{flag|Hungary|1940}} {{flag|Bulgaria}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Romania}} {{flag|Manchukuo}} {{flag|Mengjiang}} {{flag|Finland}} {{flag|Thailand}} | The Allies{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} British Empire {{flagicon|France}} France {{flagicon|Poland}} Poland {{flag|Belgium}} {{flag|Netherlands}} {{flag|Luxembourg}} {{flag|Czechoslovakia}} {{NOR}} {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Greece}} {{flag|Yugoslavia}} {{flag|Soviet Union|1936}} {{flag|United States|1912}} {{flag|Canada|1921}} {{AUS}} {{flag|New Zealand}} {{flag|British Raj|name=Indian Empire}} {{NPL}} {{flagcountry|Union of South Africa}} {{flag|Brazil}} {{flag|Republic of China|name=China}} {{flag|Ethiopian Empire}} | Allied victory:- Kingdom of Italy signs the Armistice of Cassibile, declares war on Germany and becomes a co-belligerent of the Allies from 1943-1945.
- Italian Social Republic, part of the Axis from 1943-1945, is defeated in the Italian Campaign/Italian Civil War;
- Italy signs the Treaty of Paris and is forced to cede Istria, Zara and most of the Julian March to Jugoslavia, Brigue and Tende to France, as well as losing all its colonies and part of its surviving fleet, and paying reparations to several countries.
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Start | Finish | Name of Conflict | Belligerents | Outcome | Combatant 1 | Combatant 2 |
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1982 | 1984 | Multinational Force in Lebanon | Italy}} {{flag|United States}} {{flag|France}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} | {{flagicon>Islamic Republic of Iran|size=25px}} Iran {{flag|Syria|size=25px}} {{flagicon image|Flag of the Progressive Socialist Party.svg|size=25px}} Progressive Socialist Party {{flagicon image|Flag of the Amal Movement.svg|size=25px}} Amal Movement | Insurgent victory- Multinational forces fail to prevent collapse of Lebanese Army into sectarian militias.[3][4]
- Multinational forces evacuated after the US embassy and US Marine barracks are bombed by the Islamic Jihad Organization.
- Multinational forces oversee withdrawal of Palestine Liberation Organization.
- Civil war continues until 1990.
- Syrian occupation continues until 2005.
|
1991 | 1991 | Gulf War | Kuwait}} {{flag|United States}} {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} {{flag|France}} {{flag|Egypt}} {{flag|Syria}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|Italy}} Other Allies | Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg}} Iraq | Victory- Kuwait regains its independence
|
1992 | 1996 | Bosnian War (1992–1995) | Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992|size=23px}} Bosnia and Herzegovina {{flag|Croatia|size=23px}} {{flag|Belgium|size=23px}} {{flag|Canada|size=23px}} {{flag|Denmark|size=23px}} {{flag|France|size=23px}} {{flag|Germany|size=23px}} {{flag|Italy|size=23px}} {{flag|Luxembourg|size=23px}} {{flag|Netherlands|size=23px}} {{flag|Norway|size=23px}} {{flag|Portugal|size=23px}} {{flag|Spain|size=23px}} {{flag|Turkey|size=23px}} {{flag|United Kingdom|size=23px}} {{flag|United States|size=23px}} | Republika Srpska|size=23px}} | Victory- Dayton Accords
- Internal partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina according to the Dayton Accords
- Deployment of NATO-led IFOR to oversee the peace agreement
- Massive civilian casualties for the Bosniak ethnic group
|
1992 | 1995 | Somali Civil War | United States|size=25px}} {{flag|United Kingdom|size=25px}} {{flag|Italy|size=25px}} {{flag|Saudi Arabia|size=25px}} {{Flag|Malaysia|size=25px}} {{Flag|Pakistan|size=25px}} {{flag|Spain|size=25px}} {{flag|India|size=25px}} {{flag|Greece|size=25px}} {{flag|Germany|size=25px}} {{flag|France|size=25px}} {{flag|Canada|size=25px}} {{flag|Botswana|size=25px}} {{flag|Belgium|size=25px}} {{flag|Australia|size=25px}} | Somalia}} Various Somali factions | Victory- UN humanitarian mandate fulfilled.
- About 100,000 lives were saved by outside resistance.
- Civil war is ongoing.
- UN withdrawal.
|
1997 | 1997 | Albanian civil war (Operation Alba) | Albania}}Government of Sali Berisha (Operation Alba)- {{flagicon|Italy}} Italian Armed Forces
- {{flagicon|France}} French Armed Forces
- {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkish Armed Forces
- {{flagicon|Greece}} Hellenic Armed Forces
- {{flagicon|Romania}} Romanian Armed Forces
- {{flagicon|Austria}} Austrian Armed Forces
(Operation Libelle)- {{flagicon|Germany}} German Armed Forces
(Operation Silver Wake)- {{flagicon|USA}} United States Armed Forces
| Albania}} Rebels | Victory New Parliamentary Elections. |
1998 | 1999 | Kosovo War | United States}} {{flag|France}} {{flag|Canada}} {{flag|Denmark}} {{flag|Germany}} {{flag|Italy}} Kosovo Liberation Army | FR Yugoslavia}} | Victory- Kosovo occupied by Nato forces
- Kosovo administered by UNMIK
|
2001 | 2001 | 2001 insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia | Uck Nla logo.svg}} National Liberation Army {{flag|NATO}} | Macedonia}}
Supported by:
{{flag|Ukraine}}[5][6][7](main arms supply) {{flagicon|SCG}} FR Yugoslavia (arms supply) {{flag|Bulgaria}} (arms supply) {{flag|Russia}} (arm supply and Contractors) | Ceasefire- Ohrid Agreement
- Macedonian offensive stopped by NATO involvement
- Ceasefire established
- The majority of Albanian insurgents agree to disarm in exchange for greater ethnic rights
- Low intensity resurgence since November 2001
|
2001 | Afghanistan War (2001–present) | United States|size=23px}} {{flag|United Kingdom|size=23px}} {{flag|Italy|size=23px}} {{flag|Germany|size=23px}} {{flag|France|size=23px}} {{flag|Canada|size=23px}} {{flag|Australia|size=23px}} {{flag|Georgia|size=23px}} {{flag|Poland|size=23px}} {{flag|Romania|size=23px}} {{flag|Turkey|size=23px}} {{flag|Afghanistan|size=23px}} {{flagicon|Afghanistan|1992|size=23px}} Northern Alliance {{collapsible list | bullets = yes | {{flagicon image|Flag of the International Security Assistance Force.svg|size=23px}} ISAF}} | Albania|size=23px}} | Armenia|size=23px}} | Austria|size=23px}} | Azerbaijan|size=23px}} | Bahrain|size=23px}} | Belgium|size=23px}} | Bosnia and Herzegovina|size=23px}} | Bulgaria|size=23px}} | Croatia|size=23px}} | Czech Republic|size=23px}} | Denmark|size=23px}} | El Salvador|size=23px}} | Estonia|size=23px}} | Finland|size=23px}} | Greece|size=23px}} | Hungary|size=23px}} | Iceland|size=23px}} | Ireland|size=23px}} | Jordan|size=23px}} | Latvia|size=23px}} | Lithuania|size=23px}} | Luxembourg|size=23px}} | Malaysia|size=23px}} | Mongolia|size=23px}} | Montenegro|size=23px}} | Netherlands|size=23px}} | New Zealand|size=23px}} | Norway|size=23px}} | Portugal|size=23px}} | Republic of Macedonia|size=23px}} | Singapore|size=23px}} | Slovakia|size=23px}} | Slovenia|size=23px}} | South Korea|size=23px}} | Spain|size=23px}} | Sweden|size=23px}} | Switzerland|size=23px}} | Tonga|size=23px}} | Ukraine|size=23px}} | United Arab Emirates|size=23px}} }} | Afghanistan|Taliban|size=23px}} Taliban {{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|size=23px}} al-Qaeda {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} HI-Gulbuddin {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} Hezb-e Islami Khalis {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} Haqqani network {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} Lashkar-e-Taiba {{flagicon image|Jaishi-e-Mohammed.svg|size=23px}} Jaish-e-Mohammed {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} East Turkestan Islamic Movement {{flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban|size=23px}} Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan {{flagicon image|Flag of Waziristan resistance (1930s).svg|size=23px}} Islamic Emirate of Waziristan {{flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban|size=23px}} Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} Islamic Jihad Union {{flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban|size=23px}} Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan | Victory- Invasion of Afghanistan
- Fall of the Taliban government in Afghanistan
- Destruction of al-Qaeda camps
- Over two thirds of al-Qaeda's leadership demolished
- Occupation of Afghanistan
- Establishment of a new Afghan Government and Security Force
- Taliban insurgency
- Killing of Osama bin Laden
- Escape of Ayman al-Zawahiri
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2003 | 2006 | Iraq War | Flag of Multi-National Force – Iraq.png|size=23px}} Multi-National Force – Iraq: {{flag|United States}} {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{flag|Italy}} {{flag|Australia}} {{flag|Spain}} {{flag|Netherlands}} {{flag|Poland}} {{flag|South Korea}} {{flag|Ukraine}} {{flag|Georgia}} Other Allies{{flag|Iraq}} after the fall of Saddam Hussein {{flag|Iraqi Kurdistan}} | Iraq|1991}} under Saddam Hussein {{flagicon image|Flag of The Islamic State of Iraq.jpg}} Islamic State of Iraq{{Clear}}Various insurgents | Stalemate- Overthrow of Ba'ath Party government
- Deployment in Dhi Qar Province
- Iraqi insurgency, emergence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Sectarian Violence[8]
- Rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the successor of al-Qaeda in Iraq[9][10]
- Italian withdrawal in 2006, US withdrawal in 2011
|
2011 | 2011 | Libyan intervention | NATO}} members acting under {{flagicon|UN}} UN mandate, including: {{flag|United States}} {{flag|France}} {{flag|Denmark}} {{flag|Italy}} {{flag|Canada}}
and
{{flagicon|Libya|1951}} Anti-Gaddafi forces {{flagicon|Arab League}} several Arab League states {{flagicon|Sweden}} Sweden | Libya|1977}} Pro-Gaddafi forces | Victory- Fall of Gaddafi regime
- Muammar Gaddafi killed
- National Transitional Council take control
|
1. ^Indro Montanelli, Storia d'Italia, vol. 6 1861 - 1919, RCS Libri S.p.A., 2006
2. ^[https://books.google.com/books?id=275PAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA244&lpg=PA244&dq=pacification+of+italian+somalia&source=bl&ots=dmRJcYWV8S&sig=CkfgKhw3Qj_bmFlQVlScZyqqDgw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IZcZVY_uM4anggSb5YDgDw&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=pacification%20of%20italian%20somalia&f=false Pacification of Somalia].
3. ^{{cite web|date=23 September 1982|title=Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Larry Speakes|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/RR9_23_82.html}}
4. ^{{cite web|date=11 March 1984|title=The Collapse of Lebanon's Army: U.S. Said to Ignore Factionalism|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/11/world/the-collapse-of-lebanon-s-army-us-said-to-ignore-factionalism.html?pagewanted=all}}
5. ^{{cite web | url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/636815/posts | title=Paper critical of Western call on Ukraine to stop selling arms to Macedonia | publisher=Free Republic | date=28 February 2002 | accessdate=5 May 2015 | author=Zerkalo Nedeli}}
6. ^{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/23/world/rebels-secure-a-base-in-macedonian-town.html | title=Rebels Secure a Base in Macedonian Town | publisher=New York Times | date=23 July 2001 | accessdate=5 May 2015 | author=Carlotta Gall}}
7. ^{{cite web | url=http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=28044#.VUfxKvmqqko | title=UKRAINE FORGES MILITARY ALLIANCE WITH MACEDONIA | publisher=The Jamestown | date=31 October 2001 | accessdate=5 May 2015 | author=Taras Kuzio}}
8. ^{{cite news |title=Sectarian divisions change Baghdad's image|publisher=MSNBC|date=3 July 2006|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13684759/|accessdate=18 February 2007}}
9. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-jrtn-movement-and-iraq%E2%80%99s-next-insurgency |title=The JRTN Movement and Iraq's Next Insurgency | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point |publisher=Ctc.usma.edu |accessdate=2014-08-02}}
10. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/221274.htm |title=Al-Qaeda's Resurgence in Iraq: A Threat to U.S. Interests|publisher=U.S Department of State|accessdate=26 November 2010|date=5 February 2014}}
{{Europe topic|List of wars involving|title=Lists of wars involving European countries}}{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}