Executive Summary
The first quarter of 2026 saw a significant increase in civilian casualties from explosive weapons, with 6,130 fatalities and an estimated 13,400-23,400 injuries globally. Hostilities involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, alongside escalations in Lebanon, contributed to a sharp rise in incidents and fatalities, particularly in March. Damage to vital civilian infrastructure, especially water systems, also surged, with state actors responsible for the majority of reported harm.
Why It Matters
This document provides critical data on the human cost of ongoing conflicts, highlighting the increasing impact of explosive weapons on civilians and vital infrastructure, which is crucial for understanding humanitarian crises and conflict dynamics.
Key Takeaways
- Civilian fatalities from explosive weapons surged by 137% in Q1 2026 compared to Q4 2025, reaching 6,130 reported deaths.
Source evidence · PDF page 1
In the first quarter of 2026, 6,130 people were reported killed in explosive weapons incidents that harmed civilians, and the Explosive Weapons Monitor estimates that about 13,400 to 23,400 civilians were injured (average-to-high estimate) .
- Incidents affecting civilian infrastructure, particularly water systems, increased significantly, with a 124% rise in damage to water infrastructure.
Source evidence · PDF page 3
A notable feature of this quarter was the rise of incidents where explosive weapons damaged water infrastructure. Reported incidents of explosive weapons impact on water infrastructure rose from 21 in the last quarter of 2025 to 47 in the first quarter of 2026, representing a rise of 124 percent.
- State armed forces, including Russia, Israel, and the United States, were responsible for the vast majority of civilian harm incidents and fatalities.
Source evidence · PDF page 6
Russian armed forces were associated with the most incidents (1,257), almost all in Ukraine. Israeli armed forces were associated with 644 incidents and with the most reported fatalities of any user (1,782).
Strategic Relevance
The report details the escalating humanitarian crisis caused by explosive weapons in various conflict zones, providing data on civilian harm and infrastructure damage. This information is strategically relevant for assessing the impact of military operations, understanding conflict dynamics, and informing policy on civilian protection and international humanitarian law.