Important Battles: YearBattle NameInvolved Countries 2003Gulf War IIUS led coalition forces dethroned the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein 2001US-Afghanistan WarUS led coalition forces attack Afghanistan to bring down the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in retaliation to the September 11 terrorist attack in the USA 1999Kargil WarIndia defeated Pakistani forces at Kargil 1991Gulf WarUS led multinational forces attacked Iraq to oust Iraqi troops from Kuwait 1971Pakistan-Bangladesh WarMukti Bahini forces aided by India against the Pakistani forces stationed in Bangladesh (former East Pakistan); Pakistani forces surrendered and Bangladesh came into being 1967Israel-Arab WarSix-day war, shortest war in history; Arab forces led by Egypt, Syria and Jordan were defeated 1954Korean WarSouth Korea invaded by North Korea; North Korea was forced back by UN forces 1942Desert WarItalian Army from Libya invaded Egypt in order to attack British forces 1939 - 45World War IAxis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) against the Allies (Britain, USSR, US, France and several other countries); Axis powers were defeated 1916Battle of JutlandDuring World War I鈥搉aval battle between Germany and England in which Germany was defeated 1914 - 1919World War IGermany (with Austria, Hungary and Turkey) against Britain (with France, US, Russia, Japan, Canada, Austria and Belgium); Germany and its allies were defeated 1913Balkan War IIInvasion of Serbia and Greece by Bulgaria; Bulgaria defeated by combined forces of Serbia, Greece, Romania, Montenegro, which stripped Turkey of most of its European territories 1912Balkan War ITurkey and Balkan countries (Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece); Turkey defeated 1905Russo鈥揓apan WarRussia and Japan in the Sea of Japan; Russia defeated; also called the 'Battle of Port Arthur' or 'Battle of Yalu' 1861 - 1865American Civil WarNorthern Vs. Southern states of America for the abolition of slavery; Abraham Lincoln defeated the Southern states 1840First China WarChina and Britain; Chinese forces yielded. It was a trade war and also known as the 'Opium War' 1815Battle of WaterlooBritish forces led by Duke of Wellington defeated French forces led by Napoleon Bonaparte; it was Napoleon's last battle; Napoleon was abdicated and was exiled to the island of St Helena in South Atlantic where he died in 182l. 1813Battle of LeipzigGermany and combined forces of Austria, Prussia and Russia defeated Napoleon (French forces) 1812Battle of聽BorodinoFrance and Russia; the French forces were commanded by Napoleon who was defeated 1805Battle of AusterlitzBritain, Austria, Russia and Prussia on one side and France on the other; French on the other; French forces victorious 1805Battle of TrafalgarBritish fleet defeated fleets of France and Spain; British fleets commanded by Admiral Nelson, who was killed in the battle 1798Battle of NileBritish and French fleets; Britain victorious 1756 - 1763Seven Year WarBritain and France against Austria and Prussia; British alliance won 1607Battle of Gibraltar BayThe Dutch defeated the Spaniards and the Portuguese 1642 - 1649Civil War of EnglandBetween Cavaliers (King Charles supporters) and forces of the Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell; King Charles I executed 1618 - 1648Thirty Year WarStarted as religious-cum-political war between (Conto) the Lutherans and Catholics in Germany and developed into an international war 1588Anglo-Spanish WarSpanish and English fleets fought in the English Channel; Defeat of the Spanish fleet 1455 - 1485War of RosesCivil War in England between the two rival royal houses of Lancaster and York; White and red rose were their respective symbols 1338 - 1453Hundred Year WarFrance and England 190 BCBattle of MagnesiaSyrian and Roman forces; Syrian forces defeated (north-west Lydia) 331 BCBattle of ArabiaGreek and Persian forces; Greeks victorious 431 - 421 BCSpartan War IISparta and Athens; Spartans victorious 459 BCSpartan War ISparta and Athens, also called 'Pelponesian War'; it lasted for 30 years 479 BCBattle of MycaleGreek and Persian forces; Persian fleet defeated 479 BCBattle of PlataeGreek and Persian forces; Persian forces defeated 480 BCBattle of SalamisAthenian and Persian fleet in the Bay of Salamis; Persian fleet defeated 480 BCBattle of ThermoplyaeSpartans led by Leonidas and Persians by Xerxes; Spartans were defeated. 490 BCBattle of MarathonAthenians and Persians; King Darius of Persia defeated. 608 BCBattle of MegiddoNecho of Egypt and Josiah of Judah; Egyptians victorious