On Thursday, May 1, 2025, 15-year-old Ahmed Samir was killed and two other children, all from al-Sayed Village south of the City of Manbij in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo Governorate, were injured when a landmine exploded on a bicycle while they were near al-Ibrahim Village, east of the town of Al-Khafsa in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo. It should be noted that the area was under the control of the transitional government at the time of the incident.
According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, the mine exploded on a motorcycle the children were riding while passing near an earthen berm in the area.
The area have witnessed changes in control between the parties to the conflict, making determining who planted the mine extremely difficult.
Legal Conclusions:
The mine explosion that killed a child and injured two others while they were engaging in a peaceful civilian activity (moving from one area to another) is an example of how the effects of war continue to threaten the lives of civilians.
The continued presence of landmines in populated areas or near civilian activity, without their removal or warning to the population of their presence, constitutes a violation of positive protection obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular Article 10 of the amended Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW).
The failure of controlling parties to provide mine maps or place clear warning signs exposes civilians to death or injury and constitutes a violation of the duty to warn and inform under international humanitarian law.
The inability to identify the party that laid the mine raises the issue of impunity, which requires an independent investigation and underscores the need for comprehensive documentation of remnants of war and contamination sites to avoid recurring incidents.
The continued presence of mines in civilian areas poses a threat to the right to life and bodily integrity.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
Open an urgent investigation into the incident to determine which parties to the conflict planted mines in the area and hold the responsible party legally responsible for negligence or deliberate action.
Expedite landmine clearance operations, particularly in agricultural and pastoral areas close to population centers, in cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and the Syrian Civil Defense.
Prepare comprehensive and updated maps of mines and explosive remnants of war and disseminate them at the local level, with clear warning signs in all suspected areas, particularly those under the effective control of forces on the ground.
Implement comprehensive local awareness campaigns targeting residents of rural areas and camps on the dangers of mines and how to identify and avoid them, in cooperation with civil society organizations.
Provide direct support to the families of victims through urgent financial compensation, psychosocial support, and inclusion in programs to assist victims of explosive remnants of war.
