Raqqa, July 13 (SANA) A father and his child were killed on Monday when a landmine left by the deposed regime exploded in the village of Al-Jabrali, west of Tal Abyad in the Raqqa countryside, after they entered the area before mine clearance operations had been completed, local authorities said.
Tal Abyad District Director Saad Faris told SANA that the father and his son entered the western area of Tal Abyad despite repeated warnings issued by the district administration and security checkpoints preventing entry until military engineering teams complete mine clearance operations.
Faris said the district administration has been working for three months, under the directives of the Raqqa governor and in coordination with the Defense Ministry, to clear areas contaminated with landmines and war remnants in preparation for the safe return of residents.
Engineering units continue to sweep for and clear mines in Al-Jabrali village, with the area remaining closed to civilians until fully cleared, particularly as landmines and explosive devices remain planted inside a number of homes, requiring precision and caution in dealing with them.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance left by the ousted regime remain a deadly legacy across Syria, particularly in areas that saw heavy fighting. Since the fall of the regime in December 2024, at least 341 civilian deaths, including 88 children and 21 women, have been documented as a result of landmine explosions and cluster munition remnants, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.
Mine clearance operations have been ongoing across the country, with engineering units working to clear residential areas, agricultural land and infrastructure to enable the safe return of displaced families. The UN has warned that millions of landmines and unexploded ordnance remain a “deadly legacy” across Syria.
Kh.A / H.H
