2,442 killed or injured by war remnants in Syria

The HALO Trust, an organization specializing in mine clearance and the removal of remnants of war, said that around 2,442 people have been killed or injured by explosive remnants of war in Syria since the fall of the Baathist regime on December 8, 2024, through August 2026.

In a report, the organization said the figure is based on estimates from Syria’s mine-action sector, noting that millions of Syrians continue to face the risks posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind by years of war.

According to the organization, villages, towns and agricultural areas still contain dangerous explosive remnants, posing an obstacle to the return of residents and the reconstruction of affected areas, particularly as large numbers of Syrians return to their home areas following the end of Assad’s rule.

The HALO Trust said its teams are working in Syria to clear these remnants, while international specialist teams have begun training Syrian personnel and supporting mine-clearance operations, with a focus on the worst-affected areas.

The organization warns that the danger posed by explosive remnants of war does not end when military operations cease. Mines and unexploded ordnance can remain for decades, posing a threat to civilians, children, farmers and people returning to their homes.

HALO Trust is currently supporting four Syrian mine-clearance teams through a six-month program aimed at strengthening the capacity of local explosive ordnance clearance teams and expanding clearance operations in affected areas.

These figures come as Syria faces one of the region’s biggest challenges involving explosive remnants of war, after years of conflict left large quantities of mines and unexploded ordnance in cities, villages, roads and agricultural land.

ANHA