Civilian deaths are surging because drones are being aimed at non-combatants, not just soldiers, the
Civilians Now “Deliberate Targets” as Drone Warfare Explodes, Red Cross Chief Warns
Civilian deaths are surging because drones are being aimed at non-combatants, not just soldiers, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
Mirjana Spoljaric said the number of armed conflicts has doubled in 15 years and quadrupled in 30, while rapid tech advances turn every town into a potential kill box.
Wars “Transformed” Against the Unarmed
– Double the battles since 2009; four times since 1994
– Drones used “more and more” against civilians
– Forced displacement spikes as tech spreads
“Wars have been transformed into wars not against those who carry weapons, but against civilians, in a deliberate manner,” Spoljaric stated, warning that the “whatever the cost” mindset signals anything goes.
Rules of War “Abandoned”
She stressed that retreat from international humanitarian law lets violence “spread everywhere,” especially as armed groups and cheap tech proliferate.
What Happens Next
Spoljaric urged global powers to re-assert war rules before new technologies make unchecked civilian targeting the norm.
