The increasing use of drones and artificial intelligence (AI) in armed conflicts is creating significant new risks for children, with more than five children killed or injured daily by explosive weapons worldwide, according to recent research. Save the Children (STC) reports that from 2020 to 2025, children made up nearly half of the civilian casualties caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war, with over 12,000 young victims during that period.

This evolving military technology is reshaping the nature of civilian harm, particularly to children, amid concerns that international protections are weakening. Air-launched weapons, including those deployed by attack drones, were responsible for around two-thirds of civilian injuries and deaths last year. In many conflict zones, medical personnel have resorted to performing emergency procedures under the cover of darkness and using phone lights to avoid attracting further drone strikes.

In Ukraine, incidents of drone assaults on schools surged by 358 percent last year, reflecting an alarming escalation in the use of unmanned systems targeting civilian infrastructure. Similarly, drone attacks were linked to the majority of child casualties in Sudan during the early months of 2026, highlighting the widespread nature of these threats.

The impact of such warfare was brought into focus through the story of Khaleel, a 10-year-old boy in Gaza who sustained severe shrapnel injuries after retrieving a football from an area contaminated with explosive remnants near a school. The blast caused him extensive damage to both eyes and one ear, resulting in significant vision loss, persistent pain, and hearing difficulties. Khaleel now faces challenges in his daily activities, including reading in school and playing with peers. His mother described the trauma of witnessing his injuries and the profound effects on their family.

Save the Children cited Gaza as an example of the new phase of modern warfare, where widespread drone surveillance, AI-assisted targeting, and other unmanned technologies are deployed extensively in densely populated areas. These developments heighten the risks to civilians, particularly children, who often find themselves caught in the crossfire in urban conflict zones.

The findings underscore growing concerns about how advancements in military technology may be outpacing existing legal and humanitarian frameworks designed to protect civilians, especially vulnerable children, in conflict situations. Efforts to address these challenges are increasingly urgent as drone and AI-enabled warfare become more prevalent across multiple regions.