The highest reliable estimate of total fatalities. Battle-related deaths are deaths in battle-related conflicts between warring parties in the conflict dyad (two units that are parties to a conflict). This includes traditional battlefield fighting, guerrilla activities (e.g. hit-and-run attacks / ambushes) and all kinds of bombardments of military units, cities and villages etc. The targets are usually the military itself and its installations, or state institutions and state representatives, but there is often substantial collateral damage in the form of civilians killed in crossfire, indiscriminate bombings etc. All deaths – military as well as civilian – incurred in such situations, are counted as battle-related deaths.
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program