The overall civilian toll last year of 3,438 killed and 7,015 wounded was 9 percent lower than the previous year. But the figures highlighted the high number of casualties caused by militant bombs, the United Nations said. “Attacks where anti-government elements deliberately targeted civilians accounted for 27 per cent of the total civilian casualties … mainly from suicide and complex attacks,” the United Nations said in a statement. The air campaign by international and government forces accounted for 6 percent of civilian casualties in 2017, with 295 people killed and 336 wounded, a 7 percent increase over the previous year. While ground clashes were the second leading cause of civilian casualties, that toll was 19 percent lower than a record level seen in 2016.

Source: Egypt Independent February 15, 2018 08:37 UTC