Deir ez-Zor, Syria- Engineering teams affiliated with the Syrian government on Friday removed 150 landmines from rural areas of Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria, as part of a broader demining effort targeting remnants of explosives left behind by former regime forces and Iranian-aligned militias.
A military source told +963 that the mines were planted by forces loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad and groups backed by Iran during Syria’s long-running civil conflict.
“According to intelligence gathered by the Defense Ministry, nearly 300,000 landmines were laid across the province over the years,” the source said, noting that roughly 13,000 mines have been cleared so far in the region.
Deir ez-Zor, which lies near the Iraqi border, has long been a strategic corridor for Iranian militias and a flashpoint for conflict between Syrian government forces, opposition fighters, and remnants of the so-called Islamic State.
Related: Landmines Continue to Claim Young Lives in Syria
The clearance was carried out by the engineering battalion of Division 66, part of the Syrian government. The effort reflects growing concern about the long-term risks posed by unexploded ordnance, particularly to civilians and returning displaced families.
Earlier this month, the European Union signaled its intention to support mine clearance operations in Syria. Michael Ohnmacht, head of the EU Delegation to Syria, said during a visit to a school in Daraya, near Damascus, that the EU plans to fund future demining projects.
“Mine awareness in schools is essential,” Ohnmacht wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), thanking the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and local education authorities for organizing the visit. “We are committed to helping Syria create safer conditions for its people.”
