Lattakia, Feb. 15 (SANA) – Engineering units of the Ministry of Defense are continuing field operations to remove landmines and remnants of war in the Jabal al-Akrad and Jabal al-Turkman areas of the Lattakia countryside, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce risks to civilians and secure liberated areas in preparation for the safe return of residents to their villages and farmlands.
A commander of an engineering team in the 50th Division, Naeem Quraih, told SANA that engineering units are intensifying clearance operations in areas where suspicious objects have been identified. He noted that a site containing landmines was located in the Qura al-Malik area, where specialized teams immediately began dismantling and neutralization work in accordance with approved technical procedures.
Quraih added that several mines have already been dismantled to protect civilian lives and enable the safe return of residents to their homes and agricultural lands. He pointed out that engineering units continue to receive reports from residents regarding the presence of mines or unexploded ordnance near their homes and properties, stressing that all reports are addressed promptly and the reported sites are immediately secured and treated.
He further confirmed that reconnaissance and monitoring operations are ongoing, including surveys of roads, agricultural lands, and residential areas, with the aim of removing all remnants of war that pose a threat to public safety.
The Jabal al-Akrad and Jabal al-Turkman areas in northern Lattakia countryside are among the regions most affected by war remnants, necessitating intensified engineering clearance efforts, as landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to pose a direct threat to civilians and hinder the return of stability and the resumption of agricultural and service activities.
