In April 2026, Action on Armed Violence recorded 5,231 deaths and injuries from 600 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 95% (4,949) of the deaths and injuries recorded.
In instances where explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 97% of casualties (4,828) were civilians, as opposed to 44% (121) in lesser-populated areas.
Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 98% (4,870) of civilian casualties, while improvised explosive weapons (IEDs) accounted for 2% (79) of these civilian casualties in April 2026.
Of the main launch-method types of manufactured explosive weapons, air-launched explosive weapons accounted for 81% (3,993) of civilian casualties, ground-launched weapons were responsible for 9% (430) of civilian casualties, and mines were responsible for less than 1% (19) of civilian casualties.
At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 25 countries and territories in April 2026. The five most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Lebanon (1,894 civilian casualties), Ukraine, (1,535), Iran (462), Sudan (347) and Gaza (164).
LEBANON
In April 2026, there were 114 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Lebanon, 99 of which resulted in 1,894 civilian casualties, 480 of whom were killed and 1,414 injured. Overall, civilians accounted for 95% of all 1,997 casualties recorded in Lebanon in April, as there were also 103 armed actors casualties, including 76 reported killed and 27 reported injured.
99.3% (1,882) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
|---|---|
| Urban residential | 95% (1808) |
| Commercial premises | 2% (42) |
| Road | 1% (14) |
| Village | 1% (14) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | 1% (10) |
| Public gathering | >1% (6) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were recorded in Lebanon in April are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| Beirut | 1251 |
| South | 455 |
| Nabatieh | 133 |
| Baalbek | 20 |
| Beqaa | 16 |
| Mount Lebanon | 12 |
| North | 7 |
State actors, specifically Israel, accounted for 99.7% (1,889) of civilian casualties. Non-state actors, specifically Hezbollah also accounted for less than 1% (3) of civilian casualties. Actors of unknown name and status accounted for less than 1% (2) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 99.8% of civilian casualties Air strike (1,891) |
| Weapon of unclear launch method | >1% of civilian casualties Rockets (3) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Lebanon in April 2026 increased compared to levels recorded in March, when 160 incidents caused 1,298 civilian casualties, 498 of whom were killed and 800 injured. This is due to the latest escalation in attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, which commenced on 2 March. In February, 13 incidents were recorded, which caused 64 civilian casualties (17 killed, 47 injured).
UKRAINE
In April 2026, there were 283 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Ukraine, 275 of which resulted in 1,535 civilian casualties, 172 of whom were killed and 1,363 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 57 children, 103 women and 87 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 97% of all 1,586 casualties recorded in Ukraine in April, as there were also 51 reported armed-actor casualties, 15 of whom were killed, and 36 injured.
97% (1,482) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas:
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 66% (1,019) |
| Multiple (urban) | 16% (239) |
| Public transport | 4% (55) |
| Village | 4% (54) |
| Commercial premises | 3% (53) |
| No information | 3% (48) |
| Market | 2% (32) |
| Hospital | 1% (10) |
| Road | 1% (10) |
| Place of worship | 1% (9) |
| School | >1% (3) |
| Transport related infrastructure | >1% (2) |
| Agricultural land | >1% (1) |
The oblasts in which civilian casualties were reported in Ukraine in April:
| Oblast | Civilian casualties |
| Dnipropetrovsk | 349 |
| Kherson | 283 |
| Sumy | 190 |
| Kharkiv | 164 |
| Donetsk | 148 |
| Odesa | 133 |
| Zaporizhzhia | 82 |
| Kyiv | 82 |
| Chernihiv | 48 |
| Cherkasy | 23 |
| Zhytomyr | 12 |
| Mykolaiv | 11 |
| Poltava | 9 |
| Lviv | 1 |
99.9% (1,239) of civilian casualties were attributed to state actor use of explosive weapons, specifically Russia. Less than 1% (1) of civilian casualties were attributed to actors of unknown name and status.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 69% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (1,034)Air-dropped bomb (16) Combined explosive weapons (4) |
| Combined explosive weapons | 9% of civilian casualties (117) |
| Ground launched weapons | 12% of civilian casualties Non-specific shelling (1455)Artillery shelling (25) Ground-launched rockets (10)Grenades (6)Ground-launched missiles (2) |
| Weapons of unclear launch method | 1% of civilian casualties Combined explosive weapons (11)Missiles (5)Rockets (1) |
| Mines | >1% of civilian casualties Combined explosive weapons (6)Landmine (2) Anti-personnel mine (1) |
| IEDs | >1% of civilian casualties Non-specific IEDs (2) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Ukraine in April 2026 increased compared to levels recorded in March, when 266 incidents caused 1,240 civilian casualties, 161 of whom were killed and 1,079 injured. In February, 258 incidents were recorded, which caused 936 civilian casualties (152 killed, 784 injured).
IRAN
In April 2026, there were 26 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Iran, 21 of which caused 462 civilian casualties, 113 of whom were killed and 349 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 11 children, 1 woman and 2 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 98% of all 471 casualties recorded in Iran in April, as there were also 9 reported armed-actor casualties, all of whom were killed.
99.1% (820) civilian casualties occurred in populated areas:
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Other | 60% (278) |
| Urban residential | 36% (167) |
| No information | 2% (11) |
| Transport related infrastructure | 1% (5) |
| Village | >1% (1) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Iran in April are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| Khuzestan | 178 |
| Alborz | 157 |
| Tehran | 72 |
| Hormozgan | 30 |
| Qom | 5 |
| Boyer-Ahmad | 5 |
| East Azerbaijan | 5 |
| Central | 5 |
| Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad | 3 |
| Isfahan | 1 |
| Kurdistan | 1 |
Nearly all civilian casualties were attributed to state actor use of explosive weapons, specifically 50% (233 civilian casualties) by joint attacks by the US and Israel, 44% by Israel (204), and 4% (18) by the US. 2% (7) of civilian casualties were attributed to actors of unknown name and status.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
|---|---|
| Air launched weapons | 99.1% (458) of civilian casualtiesAir strikes |
| IEDs | >1% of civilian casualties Non-specific IEDs (3) |
| Mines | >1% of civilian casualties Landmines (1) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Iran in April 2026 fell compared to harm recorded in March, where AOAV recorded 840 civilian casualties, 374 of whom were killed and 466 injured. In February, AOAV recorded 6 incidents, which caused 344 civilian casualties, 248 of whom were killed and 96 injured.
SUDAN
In April 2026, there were 22 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Sudan, 21 of which caused 347 civilian casualties, 188 of whom were killed and 159 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 9 children and 6 women. Overall, civilians accounted for 96% of casualties recorded in Sudan in April, as there were also 14 reported armed-actor casualties, 6 of whom were killed, and 8 injured.
97% (335) civilian casualties reported in April occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 39% (134) |
| Public gathering | 31% (108) |
| Market | 12% (43) |
| Encampment | 6% (21) |
| Hospital | 5% (16) |
| No information | 3% (12) |
| Other | 3% (10) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | >1% (3) |
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Sudan in April are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| North Darfur | 115 |
| Central Darfur | 75 |
| South Kordofan | 65 |
| West Darfur | 49 |
| White Nile | 15 |
| South Darfur | 15 |
| West Kordofan | 9 |
| North Kordofan | 4 |
State use of explosive weapons, specifically Sudan, accounted for 71% (246) of civilian casualties. Non-state actors caused 24% of civilian casualties, specifically by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who accounted for 49 civilian casualties, and the combined use by the RSF and The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM–N), who accounted for 34 civilian casualties. Actors of unknown name and status accounted for 5% (18) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 60% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (209) |
| Ground launched weapons | 40% of civilian casualties Non-specific shelling (108)Artillery shelling (30) |
Civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Sudan in April 2026 decreased compared to March, when 28 incidents caused 791 reported civilian casualties (334 killed, 457 injured). In February, 30 incidents of explosive weapon use were recorded, which resulted in 437 reported civilian casualties (242 killed, 195 injured).
GAZA
In April 2026, there were 58 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Gaza, 54 of which resulted in 164 civilian casualties, 106 of whom were killed and 58 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 11 children, 3 women and 6 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 90% of casualties recorded in Gaza in April, as there were also 19 armed actor casualties, 16 of whom were killed and 3 injured.
All 164 civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 38% (63) |
| Encampment | 31% (51) |
| Hospital | 9% (15) |
| Police station | 7% (12) |
| School | 7% (12) |
| Commercial premises | 2% (4) |
| Entertainment | 2% (3) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | 2% (3) |
| Village | >1% (1) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Gaza in April are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| North | 97 |
| Central | 49 |
| South | 18 |
All 164 civilian casualties were attributed to state use of explosive weapons, specifically Israel.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 91% of civilian casualties Air strikes (150) |
| Ground launched weapons | 9% of civilian casualties:Artillery shelling (13)Non-specific shelling (1) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Gaza in April 2026 decreased slightly compared to March, where 38 incidents caused 180 civilian casualties, of which 76 were killed and 104 injured. In February 2026, 33 incidents were recorded, which caused 98 civilian casualties (73 killed, 25 injured).
AOAV condemns the use of violence against civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. All actors should stop using explosive weapons with wide-area effects where there is likely to be a high concentration of civilians.
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