A deadly Russian attack struck the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on July 15, killing two people and injuring at least nine others, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. The strike destroyed a residential building, leaving cars crushed and debris scattered across the area. Heartbreaking footage showed a woman grieving beside the body of her husband, who was killed in the attack.
Residents described the attack as an act of terror targeting civilians, claiming Russian forces are unable to advance into the city through conventional military operations. The latest strike adds to the growing humanitarian toll of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.


Russia attacks Zaporizhzhia again | Civilians killed as missile strike destroys homes

Last year witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties, killed or injured, by airstrikes, bombs or artillery than any other year for more than a decade, according to an annual study.&nbsp;

The report by the United Kingdom-based monitoring group said that the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza significantly contributed to this record-high number.&nbsp;

<h2>122% rise in civilian fatalities</h2>

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a London-based charity in its annual report recorded a 122 per cent rise in civilian fatalities caused by explosives last year.&nbsp;

In 2023, according to the report, 33,846 non-combatants had been killed or wounded, the largest number it had counted since it began conducting its annual survey in 2010.&nbsp;

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Notably, the total casualty levels recorded last year exceeded the number witnessed at the height of the Syrian civil war and early stages of the Western campaign against the Islamic State, between 2013 and 2017. During this time, the number of total killed and injured was regularly over 30,000.

“Last year proved to be the most harmful to civilians from explosive violence since our monitor began in 2010,” Iain Overton, the group’s executive director.

Last year, the AOAV also identified at least 7,307 explosive incidents across the world, which is up from 4,322 recorded in 2022.&nbsp;

There was a 226 per cent rise in the use of air-launched weapons across the world in 2023, according to the London-based charity.&nbsp;

The report, according to the AOAV, is based on data collected from reputable media organisations.&nbsp;

<h2>Israel-Hamas war a ‘major cause’</h2>

AOAV describes the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as a “major cause for such a dramatic increase” in civilian casualties accounting for around one-third of the global total.&nbsp;

The UK-based organisation recorded 920 incidents of explosive weapons use in Gaza, resulting in the death of 9,334 people.&nbsp;

While the staggering rise has mainly been attributed to the Israel-Hamas war, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan also contributed significantly to the total number of civilian casualties.&nbsp;

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Speaking about the ongoing war in Gaza, Overton noted that since Hamas launched its surprise attack against Israel, on October 7 there had been “a massive spike” in incidents during Israel’s retaliatory attacks.&nbsp;

He added, “Gaza almost overwhelmed our capacity to record each individual and injurious reported strike.”

The AOAV director also said that the data should be a stark warning to states that using explosive weapons in urban areas disproportionately impacts civilians.&nbsp;

The report also dubbed Israel as the “most injurious state actor in 2023” with more than 1,000 attacks leading to 12,950 civilian casualties, both killed and injured. Israel’s Swords of Iron operation reportedly accounted for 37 per cent of all civilian casualties last year.&nbsp;

Israel was followed by Russia with its war in Ukraine causing 8,351 civilian casualties, according to AOAV.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Last year witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties, killed or injured, by airstrikes, bombs or artillery than any other year for more than a decade, according to an annual study.

Last year witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties, killed or injured, by airstrikes, bombs or artillery than any other year for more than a decade, according to an annual study. The report by the United Kingdom-based monitoring group said that the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza significantly contributed to this record-high number. 122% rise in civilian fatalities Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a London-based charity in its annual report recorded a 122 per cent rise in civilian fatalities caused by explosives last year. In 2023, according to the report, 33,846 non-combatants had been killed or wounded, the largest number it had counted since it began conducting its annual survey in 2010. ALSO READ | Israeli military shows cluster of weapons factories of Hamas in Gaza Notably, the total casualty levels recorded last year exceeded the number witnessed at the height of the Syrian civil war and early stages of the Western campaign against the Islamic State, between 2013 and 2017. During this time, the number of total killed and injured was regularly over 30,000. “Last year proved to be the most harmful to civilians from explosive violence since our monitor began in 2010,” Iain Overton, the group’s executive director. Last year, the AOAV also identified at least 7,307 explosive incidents across the world, which is up from 4,322 recorded in 2022. There was a 226 per cent rise in the use of air-launched weapons across the world in 2023, according to the London-based charity. The report, according to the AOAV, is based on data collected from reputable media organisations. Israel-Hamas war a ‘major cause’ AOAV describes the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as a “major cause for such a dramatic increase” in civilian casualties accounting for around one-third of the global total. The UK-based organisation recorded 920 incidents of explosive weapons use in Gaza, resulting in the death of 9,334 people. While the staggering rise has mainly been attributed to the Israel-Hamas war, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan also contributed significantly to the total number of civilian casualties. ALSO READ | Biden's speech interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters calling for ceasefire in Gaza Speaking about the ongoing war in Gaza, Overton noted that since Hamas launched its surprise attack against Israel, on October 7 there had been “a massive spike” in incidents during Israel’s retaliatory attacks. He added, “Gaza almost overwhelmed our capacity to record each individual and injurious reported strike.” The AOAV director also said that the data should be a stark warning to states that using explosive weapons in urban areas disproportionately impacts civilians. The report also dubbed Israel as the “most injurious state actor in 2023” with more than 1,000 attacks leading to 12,950 civilian casualties, both killed and injured. Israel’s Swords of Iron operation reportedly accounted for 37 per cent of all civilian casualties last year. Israel was followed by Russia with its war in Ukraine causing 8,351 civilian casualties, according to AOAV. (With inputs from agencies)

Highest number of civilian casualties by explosives recorded in 2023, more than any year in over a decade

An airstrike Saturday by Syrian regime ally <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../russia-iran-shot-down-ukranian-passenger-plane -after-us-jets-were-seen-at-its-borders-275045">Russia</a> killed five civilians, including four members of the same family, in an opposition bastion in the country's northwest, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three children were among those killed after midnight Friday in the village of Bala in the jihadist-run Idlib region.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-civilians-killed-as-syrian-government-presses-idlib-offensive-274750">Several civilians killed as Syrian government presses Idlib offensive</a>

"A man, his wife, and their two little girls were among those killed," said the head of the Britain-based monitoring group, Rami Abdel Rahman.

An AFP correspondent at a hospital in the area saw the bodies of two of the children wrapped up in thick winter blankets.

The strike created a massive crater of rubble near a two-storey home flanked by an empty outdoor swimming pool, the correspondent said.

A rescue worker found a stuffed toy cockerel inside the building.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/syrian-and-russian-jets-pound-idlib-province-274552/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Another first responder retrieved two slain rabbits.&nbsp;

The Observatory, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information, says it determines who carried out airstrikes according to flight patterns as well as aircraft and ammunition involved.

The Idlib region has witnessed an uptick in violence this week, as the Syrian government presses a deadly offensive despite a ceasefire arranged by its Russian ally and rebel-backer Turkey.

Home to three million people, the jihadist-run bastion is made up of a large part of the Idlib province, as well as slivers of the neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces.

Idlib is run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group dominated by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Fighting there since Wednesday has killed 28 civilians including eight children, according to the Observatory.

It also took the lives of 58 pro-regime fighters and 67 fighters most of them jihadists, it added.

Violence in recent weeks has prompted hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes, exposing them to a harsh winter.

On Thursday, Russia denied launching any combat operations in the region since the start of a ceasefire it said went into effect on January 9. According to Turkey, the truce started on Sunday.

On Saturday, the Russian army deplored attacks led by HTS, describing them as "deliberate acts" designed to "undermine the ceasefire", according to Russian news agencies.

Turkey's President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../tayyip-erdogan-calls-on-europe-to-support- turkeys-moves-in-libya-275097">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a> has said he would discuss the latest attacks in northwestern Syria on Sunday with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced more than half the country's population since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

An airstrike Saturday by Syrian regime ally Russia killed five civilians, including four members of the same family, in an opposition bastion in the country's northwest, a monitor said.

An airstrike Saturday by Syrian regime ally Russia killed five civilians, including four members of the same family, in an opposition bastion in the country's northwest, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three children were among those killed after midnight Friday in the village of Bala in the jihadist-run Idlib region. Also read: Several civilians killed as Syrian government presses Idlib offensive "A man, his wife, and their two little girls were among those killed," said the head of the Britain-based monitoring group, Rami Abdel Rahman. An AFP correspondent at a hospital in the area saw the bodies of two of the children wrapped up in thick winter blankets. The strike created a massive crater of rubble near a two-storey home flanked by an empty outdoor swimming pool, the correspondent said. A rescue worker found a stuffed toy cockerel inside the building. Another first responder retrieved two slain rabbits. The Observatory, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information, says it determines who carried out airstrikes according to flight patterns as well as aircraft and ammunition involved. The Idlib region has witnessed an uptick in violence this week, as the Syrian government presses a deadly offensive despite a ceasefire arranged by its Russian ally and rebel-backer Turkey. Home to three million people, the jihadist-run bastion is made up of a large part of the Idlib province, as well as slivers of the neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces. Idlib is run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group dominated by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. Fighting there since Wednesday has killed 28 civilians including eight children, according to the Observatory. It also took the lives of 58 pro-regime fighters and 67 fighters most of them jihadists, it added. Violence in recent weeks has prompted hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes, exposing them to a harsh winter. On Thursday, Russia denied launching any combat operations in the region since the start of a ceasefire it said went into effect on January 9. According to Turkey, the truce started on Sunday. On Saturday, the Russian army deplored attacks led by HTS, describing them as "deliberate acts" designed to "undermine the ceasefire", according to Russian news agencies. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he would discuss the latest attacks in northwestern Syria on Sunday with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced more than half the country's population since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Russia strike kill five civilians in northwest Syria

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