Conflicts in 1981

The Iran–Iraq War began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran in September 1980. After eight years of conflict, both countries accepted a ceasefire deal brokered by the United Nations, which became effective in August 1988. The war caused around 500,000 deaths, making it the deadliest conventional war ever fought between regular armies of developing countries.

The Iran hostage crisis began on November 4, 1979, when 66 Americans, including diplomats and other civilian personnel, were taken hostage at the Embassy of the United States in Tehran, with 52 of them being held until January 20, 1981. The incident occurred after the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line stormed and occupied the building in the months following the Iranian Revolution. With support from Ruhollah Khomeini, who had led the Iranian Revolution and would eventually establish the present-day Islamic Republic of Iran, the hostage-takers demanded that the United States extradite Iranian king Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had been granted asylum by the Carter administration for cancer treatment. Notable among the assailants were Hossein Dehghan, Mohammad Ali Jafari, and Mohammad Bagheri. The hostage crisis contributed to a dramatic decline in Iran–United States relations. After 444 days, it came to an end with the signing of the Algiers Accords between the Iranian and American governments; Iran's king had died in Cairo, Egypt, on July 27, 1980.

1st President of the Gambia (1924-2019)

February 1981 coup d'état attempt in Spain

Martial Law introduced by the government of the People's Republic of Poland, to suppress democratic mouvents and Solidarnosc activity

conflict, contestations and revolution movements, mainly linked to Muslim brotherhood

1981 war between Ecuador and Peru

1981 air battle between Libya and the United States in the Mediterranean

kurdish rebellion in Iran

armed conflict in Malaysia from 1968 to 1989

communist insurgency in Malaysia

code name of a plan by white supremacist mercenaries to overthrow the government of Dominica

failed coup attempt by South Africa

Gambian revolutionary (1952-2013)

overthrow of Somali communism and Somali socialism in Somalia

1981 military coup attempt in Mauritania

1980 battle

Yemeni uprising lasting from 1978 to 1982.