Editing Looting (section)

==== Modern conflicts ====
[[File:Graffiti outside looted Aldi store on May 28, 2020 in Minneapolis (51237052782).jpg|thumb|[[Vandalism|Vandalized]] and looted [[Aldi]] store during the [[George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul|George Floyd protests in Minneapolis]], May 28, 2020]]
Despite international prohibitions against the practice of looting, the ease with which it can be done means that it remains relatively common, particularly during outbreaks of [[civil unrest]] during which rules of war may not yet apply. The [[2011 Egyptian Revolution]], for example, caused a significant increase in the looting of [[antiquities]] from archaeological sites in Egypt, as the government lost the ability to protect the sites.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gannon |first=Megan |title='Space Archaeologists' Show Spike in Looting at Egypt's Ancient Sites |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/space-archaeologists-show-spike-in-looting-at-egypt-s-ancient-sites/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |magazine=Scientific American |language=en}}</ref> Other acts of modern looting, such as the looting and destruction of artifacts from the [[Iraq Museum|National Museum of Iraq]] by [[Islamic State]] militants, can be used as an easy way to express contempt for the concept of rules of war altogether.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Cultural War': Iraq Mourns Relics Destroyed by ISIS |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-uncovered/national-museum-iraq-director-discusses-isis-destruction-relics-n383706 |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=NBC News |date=29 June 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

In the case of a sudden change in a country or region's government, it can be difficult to determine what constitutes looting as opposed to a new government taking custody of the property in question. This can be especially difficult if the new government is only partially recognized at the time the property is moved, as was the case during the [[2021 Taliban offensive]], during which a number of artifacts and a large amount of property of former government officials who had fled the country fell into the hands of the [[Taliban]] before they were recognized as the legitimate government of [[Afghanistan]] by other countries. Further looting and burning of civilian homes and villages has been defended by the Taliban as within their right as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-07 |title=Taliban looted, torched Afghan homes after evicting residents – Human Rights Watch |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-looted-torched-afghan-homes-after-evicting-residents-human-rights-watch-2021-07-07/ |access-date=2022-09-20}}</ref>

Looting can also be common in cases where [[Civil disorder|civil unrest]] is contained largely within the borders of a country or during peacetime. Riots in the wake of the [[George Floyd protests|2020 George Floyd protests]] in numerous American cities led to increased amounts of looting, as looters took advantage of the delicate political situation and civil unrest surrounding the riots themselves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Dennis |date=2020-06-15 |title='Peaceful protests got hijacked': Some criminals used George Floyd protests as cover for looting, police say |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/06/15/criminals-used-george-floyd-protests-cover-looting-police-say/5324881002/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tingston |first=Nhx |date=June 6, 2020 |title=Looter from BLM and George Floyd Protest Bragged About Theft on Facebook While Offering Stolen Goods for Sale |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/250229/20200610/looter-from-blm-and-george-floyd-protest-bragged-about-theft-on-facebook-while-offering-stolen-goods-for-sale.htm |access-date=March 5, 2024 |website=Techtimes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-01 |title=List: Austin businesses looted during protests |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-protests-looting-george-floyd-mike-ramos/269-c532c593-a681-42db-8558-6b97a9e9f241 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=KVUE |language=en-US}}</ref> Up to 175 [[Target Corporation|Target]] stores closed Nationwide during the disturbances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Voytko |first=Lisette |date=2020-05-31 |title=Target Closes 175 Stores Nationwide In Wake Of George Floyd Protests, Looting |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/05/31/target-closes-175-stores-nationwide-in-wake-of-george-floyd-protests-looting/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-28 |title=VIDEO: People loot Minneapolis Target in wake of George Floyd protests |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/national/video-people-loot-minneapolis-target-in-wake-of-george-floyd-protests/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=KRON4 |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the ongoing [[Kashmir conflict]], looting of [[Kashmiris]] trapped between the [[India]]n and [[Pakistan]]i militarized zones is common and widespread.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=Two arrested for beating, looting homeless man in Srinagar: Police |url=https://thekashmirwalla.com/two-arrested-for-beating-looting-homeless-man-in-srinagar-police/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912093349/https://thekashmirwalla.com/two-arrested-for-beating-looting-homeless-man-in-srinagar-police/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=The Kashmir Walla |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, international observers accused [[Russia]] of engaging in large scale looting during the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], reporting the widespread looting of everything from food to industrial equipment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fylyppov |first1=Olexsandr |last2=Lister |first2=Tim |title=Russians plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine – to find they've been remotely disabled |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/01/europe/russia-farm-vehicles-ukraine-disabled-melitopol-intl/index.html |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=CNN |date=May 2, 2022}}</ref> Despite the publication of numerous photos and videos by Ukrainian journalists and civilians, numerous Russian commanders have denied these claims. International observers have theorized that this looting is either the result of direct orders, despite to Russia's claims to the contrary, or due to Russian soldiers not being issued with adequate food and other resources by their commanders.<ref>{{cite web |title='Hungry' Russian Soldiers Loot Ukrainian Shops |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-soldiers-loot-ukraine/31732450.html |date=2 March 2022 |work=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |access-date=21 June 2022}}</ref> On 18 November 2022, the [[University of Miami]] estimated that Russian forces in Ukraine had destroyed, pillaged, and looted at least 40 museums in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://international-and-comparative-law-review.law.miami.edu/ukrainian-culture-at-risk-the-legalized-looting-of-ukrainian-territories-under-russian-control/ | title=Ukrainian Culture at Risk: The "Legalized" Looting of Ukrainian Territories Under Russian Control &#124; International and Comparative Law Review | date=18 November 2022 }}</ref>