In March 2026, Action on Armed Violence recorded 7,207 deaths and injuries from 795 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 89% (6,401) of the deaths and injuries recorded.
In instances where explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 96% of casualties (6,325) were civilians, as opposed to 13% (76) in lesser-populated areas.
Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 96% (6,156) of civilian casualties, while improvised explosive weapons (IEDs) accounted for 4% (245) of these civilian casualties in March 2026.
Of the main launch-method types of manufactured explosive weapons, air-launched explosive weapons accounted for 74% (4,743) of civilian casualties, ground-launched weapons were responsible for 12% (780) of civilian casualties, and mines were responsible for less than 1% (22) of civilian casualties.
At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 30 countries and territories in March 2026. The five most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Lebanon (1,298 civilian casualties), Ukraine, (1,240), Iran (840), Sudan (791) and Israel (566).
LEBANON
In March 2026, there were 160 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Lebanon, 136 of which resulted in 1,298 civilian casualties, 498 of whom were killed and 800 injured. Overall, civilians accounted for 94% of all 1,386 casualties recorded in Lebanon in March, as there were also 88 armed actors casualties, including 51 reported killed and 37 reported injured.
99% (1,283) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
|---|---|
| Urban residential | 91% (1,184) |
| Village | 3% (42) |
| Road | 2% (29) |
| Encampment | 2% (21) |
| Hospital | 1% (14) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | >1% (4) |
| School | >1% (2) |
| Other | >1% (2) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were recorded in Lebanon in March are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| South | 560 |
| Beirut | 286 |
| Nabatieh | 198 |
| Beqaa | 142 |
| Baalbek | 73 |
| Mount Lebanon | 31 |
| North | 7 |
State actors, specifically Israel, accounted for 99.3% (1,290) of civilian casualties. Actors of unknown name and status accounted for less than 1% (6) of civilian casualties. Non-state actors, specifically Hezbollah also accounted for less than 1% (2) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 99% of civilian casualties Air strike (1,294) |
| Ground launched weapons | 1% of civilian casualties Grenades (8)Ground-launched rockets (2) |
| IEDs | >1% of civilian casualties Roadside bomb (4) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Lebanon in March 2026 increased drastically compared to levels recorded in February, when 13 incidents caused 64 civilian casualties, 17 of whom were killed and 47 injured. This is due to the latest escalation in attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, which commenced on 2 March. In January, 22 incidents were recorded, which caused 52 civilian casualties (18 killed, 34 injured).
UKRAINE
In March 2026, there were 266 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Ukraine, 255 of which resulted in 1,240 civilian casualties, 161 of whom were killed and 1,079 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 74 children, 110 women and 129 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 96% of all 1,294 casualties recorded in Ukraine in March, as there were also 54 reported armed-actor casualties, 3 of whom were killed, and 51 injured.
99.6% (1,289) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas:
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 82% (1,013) |
| Multiple (urban) | 9% (113) |
| Village | 2% (21) |
| Commercial premises | 2% (21) |
| Public transport | 2% (20) |
| Transport related infrastructure | 2% (19) |
| School | 1% (14) |
| Hospital | >1% (8) |
| Other | >1% (5) |
| Road | >1% (3) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | >1% (1) |
| No information | >1% (1) |
| Police Station | >1% (1) |
The oblasts in which civilian casualties were reported in Ukraine in March:
| Oblast | Civilian casualties |
| Donetsk | 223 |
| Kherson | 222 |
| Kharkiv | 204 |
| Dnipropetrovsk | 146 |
| Zaporizhzhia | 134 |
| Sumy | 121 |
| Lviv | 32 |
| Odesa | 31 |
| Kyiv | 28 |
| Poltava | 26 |
| Vinnytsia | 22 |
| Mykolaiv | 19 |
| Chernihiv | 16 |
| Ivano-Frankivsk | 8 |
| Crimea | 3 |
| Cherkasy | 3 |
| Zhytomyr | 1 |
| Khmelnytskyi | 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 | 75% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (933) |
| Ground launched weapons | 15% of civilian casualties Non-specific shelling (161)Artillery shelling (21)Grenades (1)Mortars (1)Ground-launched rockets (1) |
| Combined explosive weapons | 9% of civilian casualties (117) |
| Weapons of unclear launch method | >1% of civilian casualties Missiles (4) |
| Mines | >1% of civilian casualties Landmine (2) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Ukraine in March 2026 increased compared to levels recorded in February, when 258 incidents caused 936 civilian casualties, 152 of whom were killed and 784 injured. In January, 261 incidents were recorded, which caused 917 civilian casualties (151 killed, 766 injured).
IRAN
In March 2026, there were 74 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Iran, 60 of which caused 840 civilian casualties, 374 of whom were killed and 466 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 8 children and 1 man. Overall, civilians accounted for 95% of all 886 casualties recorded in Iran in March, as there were also 46 reported armed-actor casualties, all of whom were killed.
98% (820) civilian casualties occurred in populated areas:
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 89% (730) |
| Multiple (urban) | 3% (27) |
| Transport related infrastructure | 2% (18) |
| Commercial premises | 2% (17) |
| Hospital | 1% (12) |
| Village | >1% (8) |
| School | >1% (4) |
| Other | >1% (4) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Iran in March are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| Lorestan | 249 |
| Tehran | 97 |
| Fars | 94 |
| Markazi | 79 |
| Isfahan | 53 |
| Hormozgan | 44 |
| Alborz | 33 |
| Central | 30 |
| Hamadan | 28 |
| Zanjan | 25 |
| West Azerbaijan | 21 |
| Qom | 15 |
| Isfashan | 15 |
| Kermanshah | 13 |
| Qazvin | 12 |
| East Azerbaijan | 9 |
| Gilan | 8 |
| Ilam | 6 |
| Ifashan | 4 |
| Mazandaran | 3 |
| Khuzestan | 1 |
| Sistan and Baluchestan | 1 |
All civilian casualties were attributed to state actor use of explosive weapons, specifically 91% (763 civilian casualties) by joint attacks by the US and Israel, and 9% by Israel (77).
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
|---|---|
| Air launched weapons | 93% (778) of civilian casualties |
| Weapons of unclear launch method | 7% (60) of civilian casualties |
| Ground launched weapons | >1% (2) of civilian casualties |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Iran in March 2026 increased drastically due to the outbreak of war between the US, Israel and Iran, triggered by the launch of missile strikes by the US and Israel on various areas within Iran on 28 February. AOAV recorded 344 civilian casualties in February 2026, 248 of whom were killed and 96 injured. Zero incidents in January 2026.
SUDAN
In March 2026, there were 28 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Sudan, 27 of which caused 791 civilian casualties, 334 of whom were killed and 457 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 31 children, 29 women and 45 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 99% of casualties recorded in Sudan in March, as there were also 10 reported armed-actor casualties, 4 of whom were injured, and 6 killed.
All 791 civilian casualties reported in March occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 50% (396) |
| Hospital | 21% (165) |
| Road | 7% (52) |
| Multiple (urban) | 7% (52) |
| Public gathering | 6 (46) |
| Transport related infrastructure | 6% (44) |
| Other | 3% (26) |
| Market | >1% (7) |
| Commercial premises | >1% (3) |
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Sudan in March are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| West Kordofan | 232 |
| East Darfur | 196 |
| South Kordofan | 184 |
| North Kordofan | 52 |
| West Darfur | 46 |
| North Darfur | 33 |
| White Nile | 29 |
| South Darfur | 13 |
| Northern | 6 |
State use of explosive weapons accounted for 64% (507) of civilian casualties, specifically Sudan (490) and Russia (17). Non-state actors caused 25% of civilian casualties, specifically the combined use by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM–N), who accounted for 135 civilian casualties, followed by the individual use by the RSF, who accounted for 41 civilian casualties, followed by the combined use by the RSF-and the Popular Resistance, who accounted for 20 civilian casualties
Actors of unknown name and status accounted for 11% (88) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 75% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (593) |
| Ground launched weapons | 25% of civilian casualties Non-specific shelling (98)Artillery shelling (95)Grenades (3) |
| Mines | >1% of civilian casualties Landmines (2) |
Civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Sudan in March 2026 increased compared to February, when 30 incidents caused 437 reported civilian casualties (242 killed, 195 injured). In January, 24 incidents of explosive weapon use were recorded, which resulted in 431 reported civilian casualties (276 killed, 155 injured).
ISRAEL
In March 2026, there were 46 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Israel, which caused 566 civilian casualties, 20 of whom were killed and 546 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 10 children, 7 women and 9 men. Overall, civilians accounted for all casualties recorded in Israel in March.
99% (563) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 95% (540) |
| Multiple (urban) | 3% (16) |
| Hospital | 1% (4) |
| Village | 1% (3) |
| No information | 1% (3) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Israel in March are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| South | 211 |
| North | 137 |
| Central | 124 |
| Tel Aviv | 69 |
| Jerusalem | 24 |
| Haifa | 1 |
State actors, specifically Iran, accounted for 72% (408) of all civilian casualties. Non-state actors, specifically Hezbollah, accounted for 27% (150) of civilian casualties. Actors of unknown name and status accounted for 1% (8) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Weapons of unclear launch method | 58% of civilian casualties Missiles (318)Rockets (12) |
| Ground launched weapons | 27% of civilian casualties:Ground-launched rockets (131)Ground-launched missiles (20)Artillery shelling (3) |
| Air launched weapons | 14% of civilian casualties Air strikes (79)Air-launched missiles (3) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Israel in March 2026 increased dramatically due to the outbreak of war between the US, Israel and Iran, triggered by the launch of missile strikes by the US and Israel on various areas within Iran on 28 February. In February 2026, 3 incidents were recorded, which caused 8 civilian casualties (1 killed, 7 injured). No explosive incidents were recorded in Israel in January 2026.
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.
Did you find this story interesting? Please support AOAV's work and donate.
Donate