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FOREWORD

ByRobHyde-Bales,ConsultingEditor,Counter-IEDReport

Asweenter2026Anti-personnel(AP)Landmines andImprovisedExplosiveDevices(IEDs)continue tocausethedeathsandseriousinjuriesofthousandsof civiliansaroundtheglobe.

Atleast6,279civilianswerekilledorinjuredby landminesandexplosivesin2024,accordingtothe LandmineMonitor2025report.Atleast57countriesand otherareasarecontaminatedbyAPmines.Atleast25 countriesarebelievedorknowntohavecontamination arisingfromIEDs.Morethanhalfoftheaffected countriessucceededindecreasingtheextentoftheir contaminationthroughlandreleaseactivitiesin2024.1

Majorconfictscontinuetoproliferateglobally.The currentwarinUkrainerepresentsthemostsignifcant confictonmainlandEuropesinceWorldWarTwo. Africaremainsparticularlyblightedbywar.Incentral AfricafghtingcontinuesbetweentheforcesoftheDRC andRwandanbackedrebels.Thesavagecivilwarin Sudanisexactingaterribletollonthecivilianpopulation. IslamistterroristscontinuetheirjihadinNorthern Nigeria,sub-SaharanAfrica,andSomalia.IntheMiddle EastunrestremainsinGaza,Iran,IraqandSyria.

U.S.LANDMINEPOLICY

AccordingtoareportfromTheWashingtonPoston 20thDecember2025,thecurrentU.S.administration

is reversingcourseonapreviousadministration policythat‘prohibitedtheuseofantipersonnel landminesexceptontheKoreanPeninsula.’Thepaper citedPentagondocuments,includinga‘previously unreportedmemo’thatwassignedbySecretaryof DefensePeteHegsethon2ndDecember2025.The defensesecretaryoutlinedfveobjectivesinthenew landminepolicy,whichincluded‘liftinggeographiclimits ontheuseoflandmines’andallowingforAPLstobe usedaroundtheglobe,withcombatantcommands giventheauthoritytodeploythemastheysee necessary.Hegsethfurthercalledforplacinglimits onthedestructionofU.S.landminestockpiles.The previouspolicieshadcalledforthedestructionofAP landminesthatweren’tnecessaryforthedefenceof SouthKoreaalongtheDemilitarizedZone(DMZ)with NorthKorea.Aninterimpolicyhadcalledfortheuseof ‘remotelydelivered’APlandminesequippedwithselfdestructfeaturesthatwouldallowtheirdestructionafter aconficthadended,butsomecriticsoftheordnance hadwarnedthatthesemay‘havehighratesoffailures.’ TheUnitedStatesisnotasignatorytotheOttawa Convention,whichprohibitstheuse,stockpiling, production,andtransferofanti-personnellandmines. Intotal,thereare34non-signatorystatesincluding Russia,China,IndiaandPakistan.2

1 https://the-monitor.org/online-reader/landmine-monitor-2025?anchor=Major-Findings-183992

2 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/pentagon-just-reversed-landmine-policy-again-ps-122425

AGROWINGNUMBEROFCHILDRENAREBEING KILLEDORINJUREDBYEXPLOSIVEWEAPONS

AreportbySavetheChildren3 indicatingover60%of confict-relatedchilddeathsandinjuriesfrom2020to 2024werecausedbyexplosiveweapons.Nearly 50,000childcasualtiesarereported,equatingto200 planesfullofchildren.Theincreaseinexplosive weaponusage,particularlyinpopulatedareas,hasled tothiscrisis,whichhasshiftedfromindirecteffectsof wartodirectimpactsfromlethalmunitions.Countries suchasSudanandGazahaveseenalarmingchild casualtyrates.Medicalprofessionalswarnthatthe uniqueanatomicalvulnerabilityofchildrentoblast injuriesresultsinseverelong-termeffects,including disabilitiesandlifelongmedicalneeds.Urgentquestions abouttheadequacyofinternationallawsprotecting civilians,particularlychildren,inconfictshavebeen raised,astheselawsareincreasinglyignored.

ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE(AI)ISSUES

WhileemergingtechnologiessuchasArtifcial Intelligence(AI)canbeleveragedtoautomateand speedupdetectionofexplosivehazards,theycan alsobeapotentialsecuritythreat.InearlyFebruary 2026,theExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalTechnology Center(EODTECHCEN)issuedastarkwarningto bombdisposaltechniciansregardingtheuseof generativeAI.4 Themilitary'stopEODauthority cautionedpersonnelagainstuploading‘highly sensitive’orrestrictedtechnicalmaterialinto generativeAIsystems,includingbothcommercial platformsandPentagon-approvedofferings.The warningspecifcallyaddressedattemptstoupload datafromtheAdvancedExplosiveOrdnanceDisposal RoboticSystem(AEODPS)andothercritical databases.Offcialsnotedthatthisdatafallingintothe wronghandscouldhaveuniqueconsequencesfor bothoperationalsafetyandnationalsecurity. GenerativeAImodelscaninadvertently‘memorise’ andleakprivateorclassifeddataintheirfuture

outputs.Despitethesewarnings,theJointEOD communityisactivelyexploringwaystouseGenAIfor synthesisingtechnicaldatasafelytomaintaina ‘decisiveedge’withoutcompromisingthemission environment.

REGIONALSECURITYDYNAMICS

Russia–Ukraineconfict

SinceOctober2025,thewarhasenteredanintense phasecharacterisedbya‘deep-strike’energywar,with bothsidessignifcantlyexpandingattacksoncritical infrastructuretodisrupttheenemy'seconomyand militarylogistics.Inthesecondhalfof2025 Ukrainehassignifcantlyintensifeditslong-range strikecampaignagainstRussianrefneries,depots, exportterminals,andexpandeditsnavaldrone operationstotargetRussia'smaritime‘shadow’oil transport,whileRussiahaslaunchedrecordnumbers ofmissilesatUkrainianenergyfacilitiesresultingin rollingblackoutsacrosslargepartsofthecountry.As theconfictapproacheditsfourthanniversary,theU.S. brokerednegotiationsaimedtoendtheconfict havetakenplaceinAbuDhabi,UAE.Themajor stickingpointsofnegotiationareterritory,security guaranteesandcontroloverZaporizhzhiaNuclear Plant.Ukraine'sEuropeanallies,ledbyFranceand Britain,arecurrentlyintheprocessofmakingdetailed preparationstodeploytroopstoUkrainetomonitora futureceasefreifapeacedealisreached,however Russiaviewsthedeploymentofanyforeignmilitary forcesorinfrastructureinUkraineasforeign interventionposingadirectthreattoRussia'ssecurity.5 Asthetwosidesremaindeeplydivided,itremainsto beseenifthelatestroundofnegotiationswillbeable toproduceasignifcantbreakthroughorleadtodeescalationofthehostilities.Ukraineiscurrently themostlandmine-contaminatedcountryintheworld, andnearly25–30%ofitsterritoryispotentially contaminatedbylandmines,clustermunitions,and

3 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/child-casualties-from-explosive-weapons-at-record-high/ 4 https://defensescoop.com/2026/02/10/military-warning-eod-tech-data-generative-ai-systems/

5 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-foreign-forces-ukraine-would-be-legitimate-targets-2026-02-02/

otherexplosiveremnantsofwar(ERW).Over13types ofanti-personnelminesandnumerousanti-vehicle mineshavebeendocumented.IEDsandboobytraps areleftbehindaftertroopsretreatandarefrequently foundinresidentialareasandabandonedbuildings. Behindthefrontlinesofthedeadliestconfictin EuropesinceWWII,RussianandUkrainianmilitary intelligenceagencieshavefoughtashadow‘hybrid’ warinvolvingcyber-attacks,disinformationcampaigns, strikesatstrategicinfrastructureandkillings.6

AnumberofIEDattacksandcarbombingshave beenreportedinUkraineandRussiainrecentmonths.

InUkraine:Onthe11thDecember2025,aNational Guardmember,whowaspatrollingtheareawitha colleague,diedinanIEDexplosioninKyiv’sDarnytskyi district;Onthe4thJanuary2026,anSUVexplodedin theObolondistrictofKyiv,injuringaservicemember –theauthoritieshaveclassifedthatincidentasa terroristattack.7

InRussia:Onthe22ndofDecember,theHeadof theOperationalTrainingDirectorateattheGeneral StaffoftheRussianArmedForces,LieutenantGeneral FanilSarvarov,waskilledinacarexplosion – an explosivedeviceplantedunderacarwasremotely activatedonYasenevayaStreetinsouthernMoscow;8 Onthe24thDecember,twoRussianpolicemendiedin anexplosionwhiledetainingasuspectinsouthern Moscow – asbothoffcersapproachedthesuspect,an explosionoccurred,killingallthree.9

MIDDLEEAST

Gazaconfict

InSeptember2025,afterintenseroundsofnegotiations, theU.S.presidentDonaldTrumphasannouncedthe Gazapeaceplan.Offciallythe‘ComprehensivePlanto EndtheGazaConfict’–it’samultilateralagreement betweenIsraelandHamasthataimstoaddressthe ongoingGazawarandbroaderMiddleEasterncrisis.It

wassignedonthe9thOctober,comingintoeffectthe followingday,andwasendorsedbytheUnitedNations SecurityCouncilonthe17thNovember.Whilethe securitysituationinGazaremainstense,theplan providesaglimmerofhopeforcessationofhostilities andreductionoftensionsthroughouttheregion.The warinGazahasresultedinunprecedentedlevels ofexplosiveordnancecontamination,creatingan unmappedminefeldthroughouttheGazaStrip.Asof early2026,itisestimatedthat66,000to70,000tons ofunexplodedordnance(UXO)–rangingfromaircraft bombstoIEDs–arescatteredacrossthedensely populatedterritory,withsomeestimatessuggestingit couldtakeupto30yearstosafelycleartherubble.

U.S.–Iranconfrontation

TheconfrontationbetweentheU.S.andIranis currentlyatacriticaljuncture,balancingbetween high-stakesdiplomacyandthethreatofdirect militaryconfict.Afteraperiodofintenseescalation, includingU.S.airstrikesonIraniannuclearsites inJune 2025,bothnationsareengagedintalksinearly2026 mediatedbyQatarandOman.

Iraq

Iraqremainsoneofthemostheavilycontaminated countriesintheworldintermsofexplosiveremnantsof war(ERW),withanestimated2,100sqkmtoover 3,000sqkmoflandcontaminatedbylandmines,cluster munitionremnants,andIEDs.Thiscontaminationisa resultofdecadesofconfict,includingthe1980–1988 Iran-IraqWar,the1991GulfWar,the2003invasionled byU.S.andUK,andthe2014–2017waragainstISIS. Thecurrentsecuritysituationasofearly2026remains complex,characterisedbyafragile,relativestability comparedtopreviousyears.Whilemajorcombat againstISIShasceased,threatsfromterrorism,militia activity,andviolentcrimepersist,causingongoing securityrisksforlocalpopulationandforeign

6 https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-says-man-suspected-shooting-top-general-has-been-detained-dubai-2026-02-08/

7 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/car-explodes-in-kyiv-s-holosiivskyi-district/ar-AA1WazQ9

8 https://tass.com/emergencies/2062889

9 https://tass.com/emergencies/2063931

nationals.Sporadicattacksfromarmedgroups,militias, andISISremainathreat,particularlyinnorthernand centralregions.Militiasoftenoperateindependentlyof governmentcontrol,impactingsecurityand,insome cases,targetingsecurityforcesorforeigninterests.

Syria

ThesecuritysituationinSyriaremainshighlyvolatile andfragilefollowingthecollapseoftheBasharalAssadregimeinDecember2024.Whilethe transitionalgovernmentledbyAhmedal-Sharaahas consolidatedcontrolovermajorurbancentres,the countryfacessignifcantchallengesfrominternal fragmentation,persistentterrorism,andexternal militaryinterventions.GroupssuchasISIL(ISIS) andAl-Qaedaremainactive,particularlyinthe northeastandcentraldesertregions.ISIShasrecently increaseditsattackrate,attemptingtoexploit thecurrenttransitiontoregainafoothold.Controlis dividedbetweenseveralfactions:Transitional Government,whichcontrolsDamascus,Aleppoand Hama,butstrugglestointegratediversearmedgroups intoaunifedmilitary;SyrianDemocraticForces (SDF),whichmaintainsdefactoautonomy,thougha fragile‘CeasefreandFullIntegrationAgreement’was announcedinJanuary2026tointegratetheSDFinto centralgovernmentstructuresbytheendoftheyear; SyrianNationalArmy(SNA),whichoperatesprimarily innorthernborderregionswithTurkishsupport. Outbreaksofviolencetargetingminoritygroups,such astheAlawiteandDruzecommunities,havebeen reportedincoastalareasandtheSuweida governorate.Ariseinviolentrobbery,carjacking,and kidnappingforransomhasbeennoteddueto theongoinghumanitariancrisisandsecurity vacuum.Landminesandexplosiveremnantsofwar remainwidespread,especiallyinruralandpreviously contestedareas.Contaminationcoverstheentire country,particularlyformerfrontlines,agricultural felds,andurbancentres,withupto300,000explosive itemsestimatedtohavefailedtodetonate,hindering returnofdisplacedpeopleandeconomicrecovery.

ASIA

India

MajorcarbombingsinIndiahavehistoricallytargeted high-proflegovernmentbuildings,busymarkets,and securityconvoys.Themostrecentsignifcantincident occurredonthe10thNovember2025,whenacar explodedneartheRedFortmetrostationinDelhi, India,killingatleast15andinjuringmorethan 20people.10 Theblasttriggeredafrethatdamaged multiplenearbyvehicles.Policeinvestigationresults indicatethattheexplosionmayhavebeencarriedout byasuicidebomberandAmmoniumNitrateFuelOil (ANFO)wasidentifedastheprimaryexplosive.ANFO isacommonindustrialexplosivemadebymixing porousammoniumnitratewithfueloilandhasbeen previouslyusedtocarryoutdeadlyterrorattacksin BeirutandtheUnitedStates.Investigatorslatertraced thecarusedintheDelhiexplosiontoUmar Mohammed,aPulwama-baseddoctor,whoworkedat Al-FalahUniversityinFaridabadandhadallegedlinks toindividualsarrestedduringtheearlierpoliceraids conductedinthecitywhichledtothecaptureofmore than2,900kg(6,400lb)ofexplosives.Basedon evidenceuncoveredbyinvestigation,hewasallegedly partofalargernetworkconsistingofseveral doctorsfromFaridabadandKashmir,withlinksto foreignhandlers.

Pakistan

Pakistancontinuestofaceacomplexandadaptive threatlandscape.Militantgroupsaffliatedwiththe Tehreek-e-TalibanPakistan(TTP),theBaloch insurgency,andtheIslamicStateKhorasanProvince (ISKP)haveregeneratedandevolved,positioning themselvestoexploitPakistan’svulnerabilitiessince theU.S.withdrawalfromAfghanistan.Accordingtoa recentreportbythePakistanInstituteofPeace Studies,Pakistanwitnessedasharpsurgeinmilitant violencein2025,with699terroristattacksrecorded acrossthecountry–anincreaseof34%comparedto thepreviousyear.Thisrenewedwaveofviolence

10 https://thelogicalindian.com/nia-calls-delhi-blast-a-car-borne-suicide-attack-arrests-key-plotter-amir-rashid-ali-all-updates-inside/

claimedatleast1,034lives,markinga21%risein terrorism-relatedfatalities.Inaddition,1,366people wereinjuredoverthecourseoftheyear,underscoring thegrowinghumancostofterrorism.Securityandlaw enforcementpersonnelborethebruntoftheterrorist violence.Ofthetotalterrorism-relatedfatalities,as manyas437,ormorethan42%,werepersonnelof securityandlawenforcementagencies,including174 policemen,122armysoldiers,107FrontierCorpsand FederalConstabularymembers,21Leviespersonnel. Civilianswerealsoheavilyaffected,with354noncombatantslosingtheirlives.Meanwhile,243militants werekilled,eitherinsuicideattackstheycarriedoutor duringretaliatoryfrebysecurityforces.11

ArecentdeadlysuicidebombinginPakistan occurredonthe11thNovember2025outsidethe DistrictJudicialComplexinIslamabad'sG-11sector. Theattackinvolvedasuicidebomberwhosetoffan explosionafterattemptingtoenterthebuilding,killing 12peopleandinjuring36.Thevictimswereprimarily passers-by,lawyers,andindividualsattendingcourt hearings.Jamaat-ul-Ahrar,asplinterfactionofthe Tehrik-i-TalibanPakistan(TTP),claimedresponsibility, statingtheytargetedjudicialoffcialsforimplementing ‘un-Islamiclaws’.Inthefollowingdays,Pakistani authoritiesreportedlyarrestedfoursuspectslinkedto anAfghancellfortheirallegedinvolvementintheblast.

Onthe6thFebruary2026,asuicideattacktargeted theKhadĳaTulKubraMosque,aShiaMosqueinthe TarlaiKalanareaofsouth-easternIslamabad.The explosiontookplaceduringFridayprayers,killing32 peopleandinjuring170others.TheIslamicState militantgroupclaimedresponsibilityfortheattack.

Myanmarcivilwar

Myanmariscurrentlyembroiledinamulti-frontcivilwar thatescalatedfollowingaFebruary2021militarycoup. Whilethecountryhasfacedinternalconfictsinceits independencein1948,thecurrent‘SpringRevolution’ hasseenunprecedentedcoordinationbetween traditionalethnicarmedorganisations(EAOs)andnew

pro-democracymilitias.Landminesarepresentinat least90townshipsacross10-14states/regions,with contaminationexpandingsignifcantlyafterthe2021 coup.AccordingtotheEuropeanCivilProtectionand HumanitarianOperations(ECHO),Myanmarhasfor thesecondconsecutiveyearrecordedtheworld’s highestnumberoflandminecasualties(2,029),which isdoublethetotalreportedfortheprecedingyear. Syriahadthesecondhighestnumberofcasualties (1,015),followedbyAfghanistan(624)andUkraine (293).In2023,morethan1,000casualtieswere recorded,andin2024thisfgureexceeded2,000, makingthecountryoneofthemostdangerousinthe worldforthenumberoflandmineincidents.The military(SAC)primarilyusesfactory-made,longlastinganti-personnelmines.Non-statearmedgroups (NSAGs)frequentlydeployIEDsandhand-made mines.Ongoing,intensefghtingseverelyrestricts,or completelyhalts,formaldeminingoperationsinmany areas.Sincethe2021coupaerialwarfarehasbeen crucialtotheconfict.Despitesufferingterritorial setbacks,Myanmar’smilitaryjuntahasretainedair superiorityandwithit,itsgriponpower.Butoverthe past12months,theMyanmarmilitaryhasmadea notableshiftinitsaerialwarfarestrategy:aheavier investmentinthedronetechnologythattheresistance haslongusedintheconfict.Asbothsidesincreasingly relyondronestogainstrategicadvantageintheair, theconfictinMyanmarnowranksthirdintheworldin termsofthenumberofdroneincidentsrecordedby ACLED,onlybehindUkraineandRussia.12

Thailand

Inearly2026,Thailand’sYalaandNarathiwat provinceshaveseenaresurgenceofIEDactivity,part ofapersistentethnonationalistinsurgencyintheDeep South.Theseincidentsfrequentlytargetsecurity forcesandgovernment-linkedinfrastructure.Onthe 3rdJanuary2026,aroadsidebombinNarathiwat injuredfourpoliceoffcersandfourparamilitary rangersduringavillageprotectionmission.Aweek

11 https://pakpips.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PIPS%20Security%20Report%2025.pdf

12 https://acleddata.com/report/war-sky-how-drone-warfare-shaping-confict-myanmar

later,onthe11thJanuary2026,coordinatedbomband arsonattackstargeted11PTTpetrolstationsacross Yala,Narathiwat,andPattani.Onthe4thFebruary 2026anEODspecialistwasinjuredwhiledefusing bombsatapetrolstationinMuangdistrictofChiang Maiprovince.13 Onthe8thFebruary2026,a homemadebombstruckaREVAarmouredvehicle convoyintheBannangSatadistrict,Yalaprovince, injuringonesoldier.Onthesameday,objects resemblingIEDsandanti-governmentbannerswere discoveredat17locationsacrossninedistrictsin Narathiwatpromptingahighalertaheadofthegeneral election.Onthe11thFebruary,abombplantedina culvertbeneatharoadinBanKadovillage,Moo4, Ruesodistrict,Narathiwat,explodedinjuringthree peopleanddamagingavehicle.

Cambodia–Thailandborderconfict

TheongoingterritorialdisputebetweenCambodiaand Thailandhasescalatedintoadirectarmed confrontationonthe24thJuly2025alongthe Cambodia – ThailandborderafteraThaisoldierwas seriouslyinjuredbywhatThailandisclaimingtobea PMN-2anti-personnellandmineinNamYuendistrict, UbonRatchathaniprovince.Bothsidesassertedthat theiractionsweretakeninself-defenceandaccused theotherofinitiatingtheconfict.

BetweenJulyandAugust2025,severalincidents involvingThaisoldierssteppingonlandminesnearthe Cambodia-Thailandborderoccurred,resultingin severeinjuriesandamputations.Notably,fveThai soldierswerereportedinjured,withincidentsonthe 16thJuly,23rdJuly,28thJuly,9thAugust,and12th August,furtherescalatingdiplomatictensionsand mutualaccusationsbetweenthetwocountriesoverthe useoflandmines.BangkokaccusedCambodiaof plantinglandminesontheThaisideofthedisputed border.PhnomPenhrejectedtheaccusations,saying

thesoldiershadtriggeredoldlandminesleftfromits decadesofwar.14

Onthe11thNovember2025,Thailandsaidithas indefnitelypausedimplementationofaU.S.-brokered ceasefre,thattookeffectonthe29thJuly,afteraland mineexplosiononthe10thNovemberinjuredfourThai soldiersinSisaketprovince.15

Onthe11thFebruary,threeThaisoldierswere injuredbyalandmineexplosionneartheCambodian borderinSisaketprovince.Theexplosiontookplace afterweeksofrelativecalmfollowingaceasefre, reachedinDecember2025afterrenewedclashes alongtheborderoftwocountries.16

AFRICA

DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo–Rwanda confict

RelationsbetweentheDemocraticRepublicofthe Congo(DRC)andRwandaarecurrentlyatacritical breakingpoint.Tensionsdatebacktothe1994 RwandanGenocidedrivenbythefightofHutu extremistsintoeasternCongo,creatinglong-term securitythreats,ethnictensions,andcompetitionfora controlofnaturalresources.Theconfictin2025 escalatedsignifcantly,primarilyduetotheactivitiesof theM23rebelgroup.TheM23arethemostprominent ofmorethan100armedgroupsvyingforcontrolof easternCongo’strillionsofdollarsinmineralwealth that’scriticalformuchoftheworld’stechnology.The fghtinghasdisplacedmorethan6millionpeopleinthe region,makingitoneoftheworld'sdeadliestandmost overlookedhumanitariandisasters.17

Despitemultiplehigh-levelpeaceagreements brokeredbytheUnitedStatesandQatarthroughout 2025,activeconfictpersists.

Afteryearsofwar,thereisasignifcantlandmineand IEDscontaminationintheDRC,particularlyinNorth

13 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3190134/bomb-expert-injured-in-blast-at-southern-ptt-station

14 https://apnews.com/article/land-mine-army-cambodia-ceasefre-border-confict-0132bac83b36d3b5f3e70eb61b6ea3fc

15 https://apnews.com/article/thailand-cambodia-land-mine-border-b2783683c22e9db45fdedd3cb2b606b4

16 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/new-landmine-blast-tests-thailand-cambodia-ceasefre

17 https://apnews.com/article/congo-m23-rebels-bukavu-southkivu-14527185304baa9a5e40eff4cfccba85

KivuandIturiprovinces.In2022,theCounter-IED ReporthadsoundedanalarmoverthespreadofIEDs inEasternDRCongodrawingattentiontotherising rateofIEDusageduetoenhancementsinthedesign ofthesedevices,increasedinternationallogisticsand connectionstobombmakers.18

Asof2024 – 2025,atleast31confrmedor suspectedhazardousareasexist,withwidespread, undocumenteduseofpressure-releaseimprovised minescausingsignifcantthreatstocivilians, humanitarianaccessandreliefefforts.

TherecentfghtingandM23armedgroup’scapture ofGomaandBukavuin2025ledtothetemporary suspensionoftheUnitedNationsMineActionService (UNMAS)andotheroperators’activities,limitingthem tonon-technicalsurvey(NTS),markingofunexploded ordnance(UXO),andriskeducation.Simultaneously,a sharpdropinfunding – duetotheendofSouthKorean (KOICA)supportandthesuspensionofUnitedStates (US)funding – threatenstobringallmineaction operationstoahalt.Inthiscontext,DRCongo submittedathree-yearArticle5deadlineextension requestinordertoaddresstheremaininghazardous areas,carryoutsurveyinDungu(aterritoryinHaut Ueleprovince),andstrengthennationalexplosive ordnancedisposal(EOD)andimprovisedexplosive devicedisposal(IEDD)capacities.Therequestseeks anewdeadlineof31December2028.19

Sudancivilwar

ThecivilwarinSudan,whicheruptedonthe15thApril 2023,hasevolvedintooneoftheworld'smost severehumanitariananddisplacementcrises.The confictisprimarilyapowerstrugglebetween theSudaneseArmedForces(SAF),ledbyGeneral AbdelFattahal-Burhan,andtheparamilitaryRapid SupportForces(RSF),ledbyGeneralMohamed HamdanDagalo(Hemedti).Inasignifcantsymbolic andstrategicmove,themilitary-ledgovernment offciallyreturnedtothecapital,Khartoum,inJanuary 2026afternearlythreeyearsofoperatingfromPort

Sudan.TheSAFrecapturedthecityinMarch 2025.TheRSFcontinuestocontrolmostofthe Darfurregion,includingitslastmajorurban stronghold,ElFasher,whichfelltotheparamilitary groupinlateOctober2025.Fightinghasintensifedin theKordofanregion,particularlyaroundDilling andKadugli,wheretheSAFrecentlybrokelongstandingRSFsiegesinearlyFebruary2026. Bothsideshaveincreasinglydeployed"advanced droneweaponrysystems,"leadingtoasurgein civiliancasualtiesandattacksonhumanitarian convoys.Sudanisheavilycontaminatedwith landmines,IEDs,andUXOresultingfromdecadesof confict,withthe2023–2025confictbetweenSAF andRSFcreatingnew,widespreadcontamination. Over11millionpeoplearedisplaced,whileexplosive hazardsinareassuchasKhartoum,BlueNile,and SouthKordofanrestrictmovement,agriculture,and aidaccess.Asofmid-2025,explosiveincidentshave killedatleast23peopleandinjureddozensmore sincethe2023confictbegan.Heavyrainshave exposedlandminesinnorthofBahri,exacerbatingthe risktocivilians.Althoughsurveyandclearance activitiesrestartedin2024,effortsarehinderedby limitedfunding,lackofspecialisedequipment,and ongoinghostilities.

JihadistinsurgencyinMaliandBurkinaFaso MaliandBurkinaFasoarefacingsevere,intertwined crisesdrivenbyrampantjihadistinsurgency,military coups,andacutehumanitarianemergencies.Since 2020/2022,militaryjuntasinbothnationshave severedWesternties,relyingonRussianforceswhile battlingal-Qaeda-affliatedJNIMandIslamicState groups.Islamistmilitantgroupscontrolvast, ungovernedterritories,launchinghigh-impactattacks onmilitarybasesandcities(e.g.,inDjibo,Burkina Faso,andBamako).Followingcoups,bothcountries haveestablishedafragileAllianceofSahelStates (AES)alongsideNiger,withdrawingfromECOWAS. Theyfaceworseningviolencedespiteusingdrones

18 https://counteriedreport.com/alarming-ied-proliferation-in-eastern-dr-congo/

19 https://www.mineactionreview.org/country/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/anti-personnel-mines

andRussianmercenaries.Over2millionpeopleare internallydisplacedinBurkinaFasoalone(approx. 10%ofthepopulation).Thesecurityinstabilityis spreadingsouthward,threateningcoastalWestAfrican nationsandstemsfromweakstatepresence,extreme poverty,foodshortages,schoolclosures,climate vulnerability,andafailuretoaddresslocalgrievances, causingyouthstojoinextremistgroups.Maliand BurkinaFasoarefacingaseriousandgrowingcrisis causedbyIEDsandlandmines,largelydrivenbynonstatearmedgroupsintheSahelregion,whoare increasinglyusingvictim-activated,pressure-plate IEDsthatfunctionlikebannedanti-personnelmines.In BurkinaFaso,theNationalCommissionfortheControl ofArms(CNCA)developedafve-yearstrategyand validatednewstandardsforexplosiveordnance disposal.InMaliUNMASprovidesexplosiveordnance training,buteffortsarehinderedbyinsecurity,limited resources,andalackoflandminemaps.Reduced fnancialsupportforMineActionhampersdemining operationsintheregion.

Nigeria

ThesecuritysituationinNigeriaisgoingthroughthe multipleoverlappingcrisesincludingterrorism,mass kidnappings,andintercommunalviolenceandaffects nearlyeveryregion.PersistentinsurgencyfromBoko HaramandISWAP(IslamicStateWestAfrica Province)groupsintheNorth-Eastcarryoutsuicide bombingsandtargetedattacksonmilitaryoutposts, civilians,andhumanitarianworkers.Reportsindicate thatinsurgentshavebegunusingcompressedanimal dungandorganicwastetocreatemethane-based explosives,whicharehardertotracethanindustrial fertilisers.WhileISWAPtraditionallytargetsmilitary personnel,recentincidentsshowanincreasingtollon civiliansusingpublicroads.

Inrecentsecurityoperations,onthe7thFebruary 2026,jointpoliceandmilitaryteamssuccessfully dismantledanIEDplantedalongtheDanjibga–KuncinKalgoaxisinTsafeLGAinZamfara.Also, policeinterceptedavehicleloadedwithexplosivesand

recoveredalargecacheofmaterialsinKatsinain January2026,arrestingthreesuspects.Onthe28th December2025,theNigerianAirForceconductedair strikesdestroyinganIEDmanufacturingcampandan "IEDhub”inZamfaraoperatedbybandits.Despite ongoingeffortstodisruptIEDnetworks,IEDattacks continuetobefrequentanddeadly.Atleastnine soldierswerekilledinanIEDblastalongthe Maiduguri–GubioroadinBornoStateonthe6th January2026-theexplosivewasbelievedtohave beenplantedovernightbyBokoHaraminsurgents. Fivepeoplewereinjuredonthe17thJanuary2026in ZamfaraStatewhenamotorcycleranoveranIEDon theTakalafya-GadarZaimaroadinBukkuyumLGA –thedevicewasreportedlyplantedbyarmedbandits.20

Tocounterthethreat,Nigeriansecurityforceshave implementedfemalescreeningatcheckpointsand increasedintelligence-ledoperationstodetectIEDs placement.Thegovernmentbannedcertainfertilizers usedinIEDmanufacturing,whichsignifcantlyreduced productionofspecifcbombtypes.Theinitiativeis anchoredonthedevelopmentofaNationalCounterIEDEnterprisePlan,coordinatedbytheOffceofthe NationalSecurityAdviserthroughtheNationalCounter TerrorismCentre.Theplanisdesignedtoensurea unifedandcoordinatedgovernmentresponsetothe increasinguseofIEDsbyterroristgroups.

InFebruary2026,theU.S.commandforAfrica confrmedthattheU.S.hassent‘asmallUSteam thatbringssomeuniquecapabilitiesfromtheUnited States’toNigeria,afterbothcountriesagreedthat moreneededtobedonetocombattheterroristthreat inWestAfrica.Thisisthefrstacknowledgmentof theU.S.troopspresenceonNigeriansoilsince WashingtonlaunchedstrikesinDecember2025 againstwhatPresidentDonaldTrumpdescribedas IslamicStatetargetsandsaidtherecouldbemoreU.S. militaryactionthere.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabweiscurrentlyfacingacriticalfundingcrisisfor itslandmineclearanceoperationsin2026,primarily

20 https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/22/major-terrorists-attacks-that-shook-nigeria-in-2025/

duetotheabruptterminationofmajorgrantsfrom theUnitedStatesandotherinternationaldonors.21 This shortfallhasledtothecompletewithdrawalofsome humanitarianorganisationsandsignifcantcapacity reductionsforothers,stallingprogressasthecountry nearsitsgoalofbecomingmine-free.Asof2026, approximately12sqkmremainsinfestedwithmines,a fundingshortfallof$23.79millionisrequiredto completetheclearanceoftheseremainingareas.By theendof2024,landmineshadcausedan estimated1,660injuriesordeaths.Zimbabwe originallycommittedtobeingmine-freeby2025 undertheAnti-PersonnelMineBanConvention. However,citingthedeclineininternationalaid andreduceddeminingcapacity,inApril2025the governmentsubmittedarequestforafve-year extension,movingthetargetcompletiondateto the31stDecember2030.Expertswarnthateventhis newtargetmaybemissedifrenewedfundingis notsecured.

LATINAMERICA

EvolutionofTactics&MilitarisationinMexico

Mexicoisexperiencingasevereescalationincartel violence,drivenbyinternalfactionalwarsand theexpansionofmilitarisedcriminalgroupsintonew territoriesandindustries.CurrentlyMexico’smost aggressivegroup,theCJNGhasexpandedintoat least27of32states.Cartelshaveincreasingly adoptedinsurgent-styletactics,utilizingmilitary-grade equipment.

RecentreportsindicatethatMexicandrugcartels areconductingdroneoperationsalongtheU.S.–Mexicoborderatindustrialscale,withfederalagencies nowconfrmingtensofthousandsofunmannedfights usedtotrackBorderPatrolagents,coordinate smuggling,andprobeAmericanairspace.U.S.

CustomsandBorderProtectionrevealedthatagents detectedmorethan42,000unmanneddronefights neartheborderinFiscalYear2025,callingthethreat ‘rapidlyevolving’ascartelsexpandtheiraerial surveillancecapabilities.22

Theuseofdronestodropexplosivedevices andIEDshasbecomecommon.Cartelshavebeen reportedrecruitingColombianfghterswithcombat experiencetotraintheirmembers.23 Explosive attacksremainconcentratedinthefollowingstates: Guanajuato,Chihuahua,BajaCalifornia,Sinaloa,and Michoacán.AreportfromJanuary2026indicatedthat injustoveroneyear,authoritiesinMichoacán deactivatedmorethan1,600IEDs,anincreaseof 122.5%comparedto2024.24

Signifcantincidentsinthepast4monthsincluded: DroneattackinOctober2025,whenthreeexplosiveladendronesstruckagovernmentbuildinghousingthe stateattorneygeneral'soffceinTĳuana,Baja California;ArrestofaGulfCartelmemberintheborder cityofReynosa,Tamaulipas,inpossessionof151 droneexplosives,18drones,threeIEDs,andvarious otherweapons – theseizurealsoincludedstate-of-theartanti-droneweapons;Theexplosionofacarbomb, whichoccurredoutsideapolicestationinMichoacán onthe6thDecember2025,killingatleastsix people,includingthreepoliceoffcers,andinjuring sevenothers.25

Colombia

Colombiacontinuestofaceinsurgentactivityand terroristattacks,drivenprimarilybyillegalarmed groupsandnon-stateactorsthatexploitnarcoticsto expandtheirterritoryandgrowtheirmanpowerto opposethestate.IncidentsthatincludeuseofIEDs, VehicleBorneIEDsandhomemadedronestrikeshave signifcantlyincreasedincomparisonto2024.In2025, guerrillagroups – includingELNandFARCdissidents

21 https://www.context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/international-aid-cuts-hobble-drive-to-declare-zimbabwe-mine-free

22 https://www.breitbart.com/border/2026/02/15/cbp-cartels-few-42000-drones-near-u-s-border-in-fy25/amp/

23 https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/178972/Mexican-cartel-Ukrainian-drones

24 https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/michoacan-authorities-deactivated-improvised-explosive-devices/

25 https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/car-bomb-police-station-michoacan

– launchedover8,000drone-basedstrikes,resultingin 20deathsandnearly300injuries.DefenseMinister PedroSancheznotedthatarmedgroupshave perfectedriggingcheap,off-the-shelfcommercialand agriculturaldroneswithimprovisedexplosivesto create‘kamikaze’or‘bomber’units.Militaryintelligence suggeststhesegroupsreceivedtrainingindrone warfarefromforeignarmedentities.Tocounterthis threat,theColombianarmyunveileditsfrstdrone battalioninlate2025toperformbothoffensiveand defensiveoperations.

InJanuary2026,theColombiangovernment implementedanewdecreetorestricttheimportationof drones,directlyrespondingtoasignifcantsurgein theiruseforexplosiveattacksbyguerrillagroups.26 Thedecreerestrictstheimportofdronesviapostal traffcandexpressshipmentservices.Legaldrone importsarenowfunnelledthroughonlytwohighsecuritycustomshubs:theElDoradoInternational AirportinBogotaandthePortofCartagena.Travellers mustformallydeclareanydronesuponarrival,and commercialimportersarerequiredtoprovideadvance documentationtoensurefulltraceability.27

INTHISEDITION

InahighlytopicalandinformativearticlefromScanna MSC,“EnhancingPortableX-rayImagingforModern EOD,IEDDandUXOOperations”theauthorexplains thecriticalnecessityforportableX-raysystemsin today’sconfictzones–particularlythecurrentwarin Ukraine–forEODteamsfacingtheconstantthreatsof IEDs,UXOandotherERW.Suchsystemsprovide imagingtechnologiesthatarerapid,safeand interoperable.Thearticledescribesthelatestversatile advancesinScanna’sComputedRadiography(CR) andDirectRadiography(DR)systems,andhow Scanna’sScanSilcDRandScanXScoutCRsystems haveenhancedworkfoweffciency,operatorsafety andforensicdocumentation.Thepaperalsoexamines dual-modeimaging,roboticdeploymentand integrationwithNATO–standardsoftwareplatforms. TheauthoroutlinesImagingtheModernBattlespace andexplainstheexplosivethreatsfacingEOD operatorstoday,includingthewidespreaduseof booby-trapsleftbehindbyretreatingforces.Portable X-rayimagingprovidesasafeandnon-intrusivewayto identifypotentialhazardsonthebattlefeld.Twotypes ofradiographyaredescribed.ScanXScoutComputed Radiographythatusesreusablefexiblephosphor platesthatarescannedbyareadertoproducedigital images.ScanSilcDirectRadiographyemployssolidstatepanelsthatinstantlyconvertX-raysintoelectronic data.Heoutlinestherecurringoperationalproblems thatfaceEODteamstoday:shortexposurewindows, complexgeometries,communicationsconstraints, datasharingandforensiccontinuity.Heconcludesby outliningthecharacteristicsoftheScannacomputing systemsthatdirectlyaddresstheoperationalneedsof EODtechnicianstoday:Pulse-controlledimaging, Offinestorage-modecapture,Mesh-radiointegration, Pseudo–3Dvisualisation,Roboticcompatibility,Dual CR/DRcapabilityandDatainteroperability.

26 https://presoffministry.gov.mm/en/news/23909

Inamostinformativearticle,theSpanishtechnology EM&EGroupdescribetheiraunav.BEST,amediumsized,multi-role,unmannedgroundvehicle(UGV). ThishighlyversatileUGVisdesignedtooperateinthe mostdemandingofenvironmentsinordertoconducta varietyofcombatroles.Thearticlepointsoutthatthe openingofthefrstschoolsdedicatedtotrainingthe operatorsofunmannedgroundplatformsconfrmsthe recentdramaticchangesandtechnologicalevolution ofthreatsonthebattlefeldoftoday.UGVsarekeyto thereductionofrisk,theexpansionofcapabilitiesand protectionofhumanlivesinhostileenvironments. FormanyUGVstodaytherealchallengeisaccessing thethreatwhilstnavigatingmanifoldterrainand topographicaldifficulties.Theaunav.BESTis specifcallydesignedwiththesediffcultiesand challengesinmindtoundertakeavarietyofcombat roles:EOD,Counter-IED,CBRN,Counter-UAS,force protection,reconnaissanceandsurveillance,logistics

27 https://www.barrons.com/news/colombia-restricts-import-of-drones-used-in-explosives-attacks-bf72cd9f

supportandCASEVAC.Itweighslessthan400kgs andhasarangeofupto20kms.Toallowittonavigate themostchallengingterrainithasanadvanced operator-assistancesystem.Toensureoperator continuityinthemostcomplexenvironmentsits communicationsrangecanbeextendedvia-UAV basedrelaysinadditiontoRF-links.Itssizeandweight meanthatitiseasilytransportableacrossdiverse environments.Theaunav.BESToffersamost impressivecombinationofautonomy,versatility, comprehensivetechnologicalsupport,andoperator safetyinthemostdemandingscenariosonthe battlefeldtoday.

Inathought-provokingpaper“Quantifyingresidual riskinlandrelease”theauthorDrRobertKeeleyofRK Consulting(EOD)Ltdoutlinestheissuesrelatedtothe releaseforHumanitarianMineAction(HMA)ofland contaminatedbyexplosiveordnance(EO)andother ERWastheresultofconfict.Landreleasecanbe summarisedasameansofdeterminingwheremines andotheritemsofEOaren’t.Thus,landreleaseallows mineactionactivitiestofocusonareasthatareactually contaminated.Itisthereforeaneconomicprocessin thatithelpsmineactionprogrammestooptimisethe useofscarceresources,particularlyareaclearance. LandreleaseisnowdefnedinInternationalMine ActionStandards(IMAS)28 as:“…theprocessof applying“allreasonableeffort”toidentify,defne,and removeallpresenceandsuspicionofExplosive Ordnancethroughnon-technicalsurvey(NTS), technicalsurvey(TS)and/orclearance.”Thepaper defnesriskandresidualriskandintroducesthe conceptofanaccidentprofleandidentifesactions thatcanreducethelikelihoodofEOaccidents.The paperthenintroducestheprincipleof‘CircularError Probability’(CEP)alreadyusedinmilitaryoperations researchasawayofquantifyingaccuracyofweapon systemssuchasaircraftbombsandartillery.The authoropinesthatCEPanalysiscouldbeusedto identifythe‘sixsigma’(oneinamillion)pointof contaminationinclustermunitionordenseminefeld contamination.Thepapermakesthepointthat‘Onein

28IMAS04.10SecondEdition(Amendment12,October2024)

amillion’isawidelyacceptedresidualriskinother sectors,suchasthenuclearpowerindustryandthe insurancesector.Theauthorpointsoutthatitis possibletoquantifyresidualriskinHMAusingthe approachofothersectorssuchasthenuclearindustry. Intheseandothersectorsitisdonebyidentifyingthe tolerableriskthresholdandthenanalysingprocesses toachievethisstandard.Itisalsopossibletousethe conceptofatolerableriskthresholdinthesame mannerasusedinhealtheconomicstomeasurethe riskofEOaccidentscomparedtoothercausesof deathorinjury.■

RobHyde-Balesbiography

DuringhiscareerintheUKRoyal Engineers, RobHyde-Bales was responsibleforlandmineclearance inLibyaand,morelatterly, Afghanistanintherunningofthe frstUnitedNationshumanitarian landmineclearancetraining programme–OperationSalam.The programmetrainedAfghanmalerefugeesinlandmine clearancetechniques,andAfghanwomenandchildren inmineawarenessandavoidancetraining.More recentlyhesetuptheCaribbeanSearchCentrein Kingston,Jamaica.TheCentreisdesignedtotrain securityforcesacrosstheCaribbeaninmodernsearch techniques.Afterretiringfromthearmyhejoined CranfeldUniversityatShrivenham,nearOxford,and undertookaresearchprojectonbehalfoftheUK MinistryofDefencethatexaminedwaystoimprovethe sharingofIEDthreatinformationbetweenthemilitary andcivilianorganisationsinhazardousareas.