The crisis of modern warfare

In places like Sudan and parts of the Middle East, the use of drone attacks has grown, especially in the densely populated regions, with reports of over 500 civilians being killed in the initial months of 2026 alone. Markets, residential areas, and even socio-gatherings have been targeted, causing what some might call precision warfare to become a highly deceptive storyline. These are not one-off cases; they are indicators of a larger trend in which the principles that regulate armed conflict are being violated.

Distinction and proportionality are the foundations of international humanitarian law, and especially of the Geneva Conventions. These principles mean that warring parties should be able to make a clear distinction between combatants and civilians and that any military operation should not cause undue destruction to civilian life.