Damascus, Syria – The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management in Syria’s interim government announced on Sunday that the German company Sea Terra has provided a drone to support mine-clearance operations in the country.
According to the ministry, the National Mine Action Centre carried out a field trial of the drone in Damascus, marking the first practical test since technical cooperation with the German firm began around two months ago. The aim is to introduce advanced detection technology into Syria’s field work.
The drone relies on a magnetometer system capable of identifying mines, unexploded ordnance and other war remnants up to six metres below the surface. It can also determine the depth and approximate weight of detected objects with high accuracy. With a speed of up to eight kilometres per hour, the drone can scan 10,000 square metres in roughly 35 minutes.
The ministry described the drone as a safer and faster option than the tools currently used in Syria – a development that could significantly reduce the risks faced by traditional survey teams. Challenges during the trial included weak GPS signals and poor internet coverage, issues expected in a country whose infrastructure is still recovering from years of war.
Despite these difficulties, the drone successfully detected explosive remnants, confirming its potential use within Syria’s mine-clearance system. The ministry stressed that removing mines and unexploded ordnance is essential for clearing rubble, rebuilding infrastructure and restoring farmland and public buildings.
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Earlier in November, a report by the German outlet Deutschland noted that Syria will need many years before it can fully clear mines and explosive remnants scattered across the country. It warned that the hidden threat continues to endanger civilians daily, with estimates suggesting between 100,000 and 300,000 explosive remnants remain in homes, fields and along roads.
According to the report, more than 500 people have been killed and over 800 injured by mines and war remnants since the end of 2024. Around 15.4 million Syrians – nearly two-thirds of the population – face direct risk from unexploded ordnance, making it one of the major obstacles to the return of displaced people and broader reconstruction.
Germany is described as one of the world’s leading donors in humanitarian mine action. Between 2022 and 2024, it ranked second globally after the United States, with the German Foreign Ministry allocating about €70 million in 2024 alone to support mine-clearance projects worldwide, including in Syria. German organisations are currently active in northern and eastern Syria, working with local partners to clear contaminated land, map hazardous zones and support survivors with medical, psychological and social care.
These organisations also run awareness campaigns to warn civilians about unexploded ordnance, while using modern tools such as drones and machine-learning systems to speed up detection. Mechanical equipment is also deployed to clear large areas safely.
However, the report notes that the challenges remain enormous, especially in former front-line zones where mines, trenches and improvised traps stretch for hundreds of kilometres. Unexploded bombs and cluster munitions are still found daily in homes, farms and gardens, keeping the danger present and complicating reconstruction efforts across Syria.
