President Donald Trump is expected to allow the US military to once again use landmines in conflict zones across the world.

An internal US State Department cable suggests that President Donald Trump will roll back President Barack Obama’s 2014 policy that ended the production of anti-personnel landmines.

“The United States will not sacrifice American service members’ safety, particularly when technologically advanced safeguards are available that can allow landmines to be employed responsibly to ensure our military’s war-fighting advantage, while also limiting the risk of unintended harm to civilians,” the cable reads.

The Obama-era policy adhered to the 1997 Ottawa Convention, an international agreement banning the use, production and stockpiling or transfer of anti-personnel mines.

Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Show all 10 1 /10 Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Emad, 14, lost both his legs in a mortar attack near Aden, Yemen Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Young trainees are schooled in how to identify mines and Improvised Explosive Devices in Mukalla, Yemen Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Information leaflets warn civilians of the dangers of landmines in Yemen Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives A young boy looks out the window of a prosthetic limb and rehabilitation centre in Aden, Yemen Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Land mines IEDS, and suicide belts found by the mine clearance teams are laid out during training sessions Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives This suicide belt packed with nails was made by al-Qaeda militants in south Yemen Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives The de-mining teams have compiled booklets educating local populations about looking out for mines and IEDS Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Posters line the walls of a training centre alerting civilians to the dangers of mines Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives These anti-tank and anti-vehicle mines are among thousands pulled out of the ground by mine clearances crews every year Bel Trew/The Independent Yemen's battle to clear the country of landmines and explosives Mine clearance crews say Al-Qaeda militants make their own suicide vests as well as victim-activated explosive devices Bel Trew/The Independent

Since the implementation of Mr Obama’s policy, the US has only been authorised to use anti-personnel mines in defence of South Korea.

The change in policy is expected to be implemented in the next few days and was prompted by a Pentagon review launched in 2017 by then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

The review found that landmine prohibitions “increased risk to mission success” and increased the chance of US casualties. It states than any landmines used moving forward must also include a 30-day self-destruct or self-deactivation mechanism.

Many landmine deaths occur when non-combatants stumble upon long-abandoned munitions buried in former warzones. A timed self-deactivation would help prevent those deaths.

Despite the safety measure, the international community largely opposes the use of landmines. The Mine Ban Treaty – established during the 1997 Ottawa Convention – was signed by 164 nations, though the US declined to sign.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) characterises landmine injuries as “particularly horrific” and are considered “among the worst injuries” by war surgeons. For those who do survive an encounter with a mine, they’re likely to spend the rest of their lives dealing with the injury.

“The victim who survives an anti-personnel mine blast typically requires amputation, multiple operations and prolonged physical rehabilitation. Mine survivors commonly suffer permanent disability – with serious social, psychological and economic implications,” the ICRC wrote in a 2009 FAQ.

According to the ICRC, the most likely victims of an anti-personnel mine will be civilians attempting to carry on their daily business.

“The groups most at risk from anti-personnel mines are typically men and boys involved in livelihood activities, such as farming, herding and the collection of firewood and water. In many affected communities, people have no choice but to enter areas that may be dangerous due to economic need,” the ICRC statement read.

Rob Berchinski, the White House National Security Council director who coordinated landmine policy during the Obama Administration, took to Twitter onThursday to refute the idea that anti-personnel mines were especially useful military tools.

“The main point is that they’re not only massively harmful to civilians after wars end, but they’re also of very negligible military utility,” He wrote. “Farmers and kids with legs blown off long after the war ends? Yep. A particularly useful tool for our service members? Nope.”