Anglo - Zanzibar war was a 38-minute war in 1896 fought between the British and Zanzibar. The story goes like this, Zanzibar was part of the British Empire in East Africa and the British had their own people in power in Zanzibar. This man was Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini (Sultan of Zanzibar), a supporter of the British. But on August 25, 1896, he died and his grandson Sultan Khalid bin Barghash immediately came to power. He was never appointed by the British so he was not favored as the ideal successor. The British assembled their five warships to set sail on the island. They landed troops on the shore of the island, and a request was sent for the king to refuse and move out of the palace. But the king did the opposite and fortified the palace with his own army and artillery.

During the Anglo - Zanzibar war, on August 26, 1896, a final ultimatum was sent to the king to leave the palace before 9 a.m. the next day. The king ignored the ultimatum and ignored the warnings of the British. At 9:22 a.m. on August 27, 1896, the British Royal Navy began shelling the mostly wooden palace, and by 9:40 a.m. the shelling had already occurred. The palace was badly damaged but Sultan Khalid bin Barghash managed to escape and it was a victory for the British. This brief, 38-minute battle left around 500 Zanzibar citizens dead or wounded, and one British soldier wounded. Anglo - Zanzibar war is considered one of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

• Date: August 27, 1896 (38 minutes)
• Location: Zanzibar Town, Zanzibar Sultanate
• Result: British victory

Libya - Egypt war is a 3-day border war that began on July 21, 1977, the Libyan army attacked Egyptian border posts with artillery and mortars. These two countries are actually allies as the Arab states seek to remove Israel from the Middle East. During the Arab-Israeli wars, they supported each other with weapons and logistical support. But this closeness ended when President Sadat of Egypt sought peace with Israel. This did not go well for Libya's new leader, Muammar Gaddafi, who seized power through a coup in 1969. The peace treaty sought by the Egyptian president was seen as a betrayal of the opposition. Muammar Gaddafi ordered more than 200,000 Egyptian citizens to leave Libya. He also held March in Cairo, heading to the Egyptian border. When the Libyans reached the border, the march was stopped by the Egyptian border guards. This is where things escalate.

The main development of the Libya - Egypt war, the Libyans launched an artillery attack on Sallum, an Egyptian border town. The Libyan army and air force crossed the border to launch attacks against the Egyptians. The Egyptian army and air force launched a counterattack that pushed them back to Libya. Libyan military bases and training camps near the border were destroyed and the Libyan army had to withdraw. A ceasefire was announced on 24 July 1977, when the conflicts ended. The President of Egypt does not want to invade Libya and create an all-out war. This 3-day war is worthy of being the shortest war in history, but it left 400 Libyans dead and wounded while 100 Egyptians died and were wounded. Libya - Egypt war deserves to be one of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

• Date: 21 - 24 July 1977
• Location: Egyptian - Libyan border
• Result: Ceasefire

Nagorno - Karabakh war is a 4-day war that occurred on April 2, 2016, when the Azerbaijan Army launched military action against the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic supported by Armenia. The Nagorno-Karabakh front line has always been a flashpoint between Azerbaijan and Armenia with occasional clashes. Tensions between these two countries have existed since the 1992-1994 conflict that led to the formation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Azerbaijan has always considered this territory as occupied territory while Armenia considers it an independent territory. Nagorno - Karabakh war became one of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

In the Nagorno - Karabakh war, both sides use all kinds of weapons from tanks, heavy artillery, rocket launchers, and air power. The war really had no clear winner as the Azerbaijani army failed to capture Nagorno-Karabakh while Armenia repelled the Azerbaijani army. But on the afternoon of April 5, 2016, an agreement was reached on ending the hostile acts between the two sides. Tense relations persist between the two sides, but the brief battle has left at least 60 soldiers and several civilians dead, according to both sides. But it's possible that the number could be high due to a lack of accurate information from the front lines.

• Date: 1 - 5 April 2016 (4 days)
• Location: Nagorno - Karabakh line of contact
• Result: Inconclusive (Azerbaijan claims victory - Armenia claims to have successfully repelled the Azerbaijani offensive)

The five-day Russo-Georgian war occurred in August 2008 when the Georgian army launched an assault on the breakaway region of South Ossetia. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are two provinces in Georgia that have always claimed autonomy/independence from the country. Their quest for independence has always been supported by Russia and this has created tension with Georgia. There was a peacekeeping mission by both Georgian and Russian troops in the two provinces as part of the 1992 agreement. When Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was elected, he wanted to make South Ossetia part of Georgia. But in 2006 South Ossetia rejected the plan in a referendum. The Russo-Georgian War deserves an indispensable name in the list of shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

As all that is going on in the Russo-Georgian war, Georgia is strengthening its ties with the European Union (EU) and NATO and is planning to join. While on the other side, South Ossetia is strengthening ties with Russia. Of course, neither side liked what the other was doing, so accusations and minor clashes broke out between the South Ossetian militia and the Georgian army. But on August 7, 2008, the president of Georgia ordered his troops to capture the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali. The Georgian army controlled most of the city because they had almost 7,500 men with tanks and armored personnel carriers compared to 2,500 Ossetian militiamen. The tides changed on August 8, 2008, when Russian troops crossed the border into South Ossetia and fought the Georgian army. The Russians used air power to their advantage by bombing Georgian military facilities and vehicles. Russia's ground and air offensive pushed Georgian troops out of South Ossetia and its capital. The Russian army was also stationed in Abkhazia and continued to advance, stopping only 45 km from the Georgian capital Tbilisi. A ceasefire on 12 August 2008 ended the Russo-Georgian War. It was a clear victory for the Russian and southern provinces of Ossetia and Abkhazia. The war had a devastating impact with more than 100,000 civilians displaced during the war. Also in the five-day conflict, nearly 850 people were killed.

• Date: 7 - 12 August 2008 (5 days)
• Location: Georgia
• Result: Russian, South Ossetian, and Abkhaz victory

Six - Day war is a 6-day war, occurring on June 5, 1967, between Israel and Arab countries (Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan). Since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and the expulsion of Palestinians, most Arab countries have viewed Israel as a threat. There has always been tension between Israel and Arab states such as Syria but tensions ran high when Egyptian president Nasser banned Israeli ships from entering the Strait of Tiran on May 22, 1967. This led to a military buildup. Arab team at a tense time. But on June 5, 1967, Israel launched an aerial attack known as Operation Focus against the air forces of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. The Arab countries lost more than 400 aircraft, while Israel lost 20. This is a serious loss because the Israelis now control the airspace. The Six - Day war is an indispensable name in the list of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

The climax of the Six - Day war was a ground assault that began the same day as Israeli troops and tanks crossed the border into the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip. They fought the Egyptian forces and then began to retreat as the Israeli forces pushed them back. But when Jordan began shelling the Israeli army due to false claims of an Egyptian victory, the Israelis responded with an attack on East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Jordanian forces suffered severe losses and defeats and by June 7, the Old City of Jerusalem was under Israeli control. While on June 9, the Israelis began an attack against the Syrian forces in the Golan Heights. It was an uphill battle, but Israel got it under control as the Syrians retreated. On June 10, 1967, the shortest war in history ended due to an UN-brokered ceasefire between the warring parties. All accepted the ceasefire and by the end of the war, Israel had captured new territories. Israel now has the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, and the area between the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal. But Israel later returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in 1982 and then withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. This war influenced and still affects the geopolitical nature of the Middle East. The six-day war has changed the landscape of the Middle East with countless refugees affected by the war still wanting to return to their lands. The conflict has created 350,000 refugees. Although the war lasted only six days, some 20,000 Arabs and 800 Israelis died in the fighting.

• Date: 5 - 10 June 1967 (6 days)
• Location: Levant, Middle East
• Result: Israeli victory

El Salvador - Honduras war was a 4-day war that began on July 14, 1969, between two Central American countries. It is mainly called the football war/soccer war/100-hour war. In fact, football is not the real reason why these two countries go to war but it is a launching pad for war. Honduras and El Salvador have had a series of problems between them and these problems have led to strained relations between the two neighbors. El Salvador is a small country with a high population, so the chances for Salvadorans in the 1960s were very low. But Honduras is much larger than El Salvador, so the chances of finding an opportunity like a job are very high. The influx of Salvadorans into Honduras was so high that most of the native Hondurans developed hatred/hate towards the other community (Salvador). El Salvador - Honduras war is considered a typical war in the list of shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

During the El Salvador - Honduras war, the 1970 World Cup qualifiers that will be held in different countries, fights and riots will occur between two spectators/fans. When Honduran fans destroyed and attacked Salvadoran homes and shops, most fled back to El Salvador. El Salvador demanded action and the perpetrators were arrested but got nothing. Diplomatic relations with Honduras broke down. On July 14, the El Salvador air force made a surprise attack on the Hondurans. Then the army invaded Honduras with tanks and armored vehicles moving quickly as they approached the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. The Organization of American States (OAS) called for an immediate ceasefire at the request of Honduras. But El Salvador wants to ensure the safety of its citizens in Honduras and compensate for injuries and damages. On July 18, 1969, a ceasefire was announced making it a 4-day war. Although it was a brief war, it resulted in the deaths of 900 Salvadorans and 2,100 Hondurans. The war has highlighted how hostility between the two communities can lead to war and its consequences.

• Date: 14 - 18 July 1969
• Location: El Salvador and Honduras
• Result: Ceasefire by OAS intervention

The 9-day Suez Crisis war occurred on October 29, 1956, when Israel, France, and Great Britain launched an attack on Egypt. Tensions are high between Israel and Egypt as Egypt allows Palestinian gunmen to launch attacks from Egyptian soil/territory. In addition, the loss of Egypt to Israel in the June war made relations between them toxic and unfriendly. While for the British, Egypt was a colony they still wanted to control because some of their troops were still in Egypt, namely the Suez Canal. For the French, Egyptian President Nasser's support for the Algerians in their quest for independence was not ideal for them. This war is mainly known as the Suez war because the Suez Canal was the main driving force that led to the war occurring. It is very important because it is the gateway to transport goods and resources to the Middle East and Africa. Suez Crisis became one of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

Thus Suez Crisis happened, on October 29, Israel, Britain, and France launched an attack against the Egyptians. First, Israeli troops invaded Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, then British and French troops bombed Egyptian air bases, leading to the withdrawal of Egyptian troops from the Sinai to protect the canal. On November 5, 1956, France and Great Britain took over the Suez Canal area. The United States was caught off guard by this war and did not want to escalate further when the Soviet Union threatened to aid Egypt. A ceasefire was agreed and the Israeli, French, and British troops had to withdraw. The Suez Canal was given back to the Egyptians while Israel withdrew from the Sinai. Hostile operations ceased on 7 November 1956. From the war, Egypt was considered the winner as it got what it wanted (Suez Canal) and managed to eliminate the army. Although this was the shortest war in history, it led to causes that caused Egypt to suffer greatly. About 1,650 Egyptian troops were killed, 4,900 people were injured and more than 6,000 were missing or arrested.

• Date: 29 October 1956 - 7 November 1956 (9 days)
• Location: Gaza Strip and Egypt (Sinai and Suez Canal zone)
• Result: Coalition military victory, Egyptian political victory

A 10-day border war, the Incident at Petrich began on October 19, 1925. It is best known as the Stray Dog War because a dog that strayed from its owner was involved in the incident. But before the dog got lost, friction and tension dominated the relationship between Greece and Bulgaria. During World War I, Bulgaria was on the losing side with the Germans while Greece was on the winning side with the Allied forces. Thus after the war, Bulgaria was punished for siding with Germany. They were forced to cede Western Thrace to Greece so they had no access to the Aegean Sea. This left a bitter taste in Bulgaria and tensions continued between the two nations. Those are occasional border skirmishes and clashes. Things took a turn for the worse when a Greek soldier dog ran towards the Bulgarian border. The Greek soldier immediately chased it toward the Bulgarian border. The incident at Petrich became one of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.

During the Incident at Petrich war, it didn't end there because the government in Greece was changed through a coup and Lieutenant General Theodoros Pangalos was in power. Pangalos heard about the clashes and gave Bulgaria an ultimatum of 48 hours. They must issue an apology and pay compensation of 2 million French francs to the families of the fallen Greek soldiers. Bulgaria refused and the general ordered his army to enter Bulgaria, where they took over towns and villages near the border. Bulgaria asked the newly formed Federation of Nations for help. The League did this by ordering the Greeks to withdraw and cease hostilities. On October 29, 1925, the war ended. The fighting resulted in less than 100 deaths from both sides. As for the dog that led to all of this happening, it remains a mystery as there is no historical information about what actually happened to it. Hope it has a great life.

• Date: 19 - 29 October 1925 (10 days)
• Location: Petrich, Tsardom of Bulgaria
• Result: Bulgarian victory

First Franco - Moroccan war was an 11-day war that began on August 6, 1844. France was a powerful military force in the 1840s that conquered large swaths of land/area and Algeria was one of those places. But they were met with constant threats from the Algerian resistance led by Abd al-Qadir. During a battle between French supporters and Abd al-Qadir, the resistance leader escaped to Morocco. The French chased him into Morocco and demanded that the Moroccan leader, Sultan Abd al-Rahman stop supporting Abd al-Qadir and fortify his borders to avoid further incursions. France establishes a base for the army in Lalla-Mania. The Alawi tribesmen attacked the army but were repelled by the superior French army. A sense of jihad began to spread throughout Morocco against the French.

When the First Franco - Moroccan war took place, the French navy bombarded the city of Tangiers, and the war against Morocco began. But when the king's son Sīdī Mohammed assembled a large Moroccan force against the smaller French force and was defeated, the war was almost over. By August 17, 1844, the French had won this short war and Morocco had no choice but to accept the French demands. Sultan Abd al-Rahman outlawed Abd al-Qadir and established a tighter border with Algeria. This war is considered one of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost and resulted in the deaths of 34 French and 870 Moroccans.

• Date: 6 - 17 August 1844
• Location: Morocco
• Result: French victory

Sino - Indian war, one of the shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost, was a 32-day border war that took place in 1962. China and India are relatively new countries as China Quoc emerged from a civil war that led to the victory of the communists; while India had just gained independence from Britain. Tension and confrontation between the two countries regarding the border in the Himalayas. India claims the Aksai Chin area administered by China while China claims sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh in India. When China invaded Tibet and annexed it as part of China, India provided safe haven for exiled Tibetan leaders such as the Dalai Lama. This infuriated the Chinese authorities as tensions continued to flare.

Opening the Sino - Indian war is the border skirmishes and clashes that always exist between the two states. Border clashes became more frequent and India sought to enter the Aksai Chin area. Thus, on October 20, 1962, the Chinese army launched an offensive with the goal of dislodging the Indian army from Aksai Chin. The war was mainly in the mountains and this was difficult because it was at 14,000 feet. The war finally ended when the United States threatened to intervene and assist India. A ceasefire was called and both forces withdrew to their original positions at the border on 21 November 1962. Thus, 1,383 Indian and 722 Chinese servicemen were killed. It was a clear victory for China and it showed their military might. Although air and naval power are not used, the numerical strength of China's ground troops is a great advantage to defeat India.

• Date: 20 October - 21 November 1962 (32 days)
• Location: Aksai Chin, North-East Frontier Agency and Assam
• Result: Chinese victory