Casualties Of Explosive Violence In 2017

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has released a new analysis of casualties caused by explosive weapons across the world in 2017. It recorded 42,972 deaths and injuries, a 38 percent increase on last year and a 165 percent increase on 2011. 31,904 of those killed or injured were civilians - 74 percent. The research found that 45 percent of all casualties caused by explosive weapons last year can be attributed to air strikes.

With 15,319 casualties in 2017, Syria was the country worst impacted by explosive violence last year. The bulk of casualties, 85 percent, were civilian. Iraq also experienced a heavy casualty count amid ongoing sectarian violence and its drive to defeat ISIS. In 2017, it had 8,896 casualties, of which 74 percent were civilian. The United Kingdom appears on AOAV's list for the very first time, primarily due to the Manchester Arena bombing.