On Friday, September 5, 2025, child Hassan Ahmed al-Rahil, a resident of Khan Shaykhun in the southern Idlib countryside, was killed and four other children were injured when the remnants of a rocket left behind by the conflict exploded while the children were playing in the northern neighborhood of Khan Shaykhun. It should be noted that the area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from local sources, the remains of the missile exploded near a children’s playground in the neighborhood, killing the child Hassan and injuring the children: Qaddour, Kardina Ahmad al-Rahil, and Ahmad and Muhammad Abdullah al-Rahil. All of the injuries resulted in amputations.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and collecting more evidence and information. Therefore, we hope that anyone with information or details related to this incident will share them with us via our official email: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- Weapon remnants continue to pose a grave threat to the lives of civilians, especially children, who may handle these objects without being aware of the dangers they pose. The Network has previously issued several reports on cluster munitions and weapons remnants, warning of their far-reaching effects, which include not only death but also permanent injuries and physical and psychological disfigurement.
- The use of these types of weapons in populated areas by various parties to the conflict over the past years constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality, and entails legal responsibility.
- The continuing effects of these weapons after the conflict are an extension of previous violations, for which the parties that used them or left them unrecovered bear primary responsibility, whether for their causation or negligence.
- Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees the right to life, which includes the protection of the population from residual threats that endanger their lives even in times of peace.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Organize and coordinate efforts to remove remnants of war scattered throughout the country through a comprehensive national plan in partnership with specialized international organizations.
- Ensure victims’ rights to access compensation, treatment, and psychological care, especially children and those permanently disabled as a result of these remnants.
- Identify contaminated areas, publish their maps publicly, and launch community awareness campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of explosive remnants.
- Cooperate with relevant international bodies, such as UNMAS and the ICRC, to develop technical and legislative standards for addressing remnants of war.
- Support Syrian post-conflict efforts through funding, training, and equipment, ensuring the effective and comprehensive removal of all remnants of war.
- Provide legal and technical support to document the use of prohibited weapons by the parties involved, contributing to accountability and justice.
- Provide sustainable and direct funding for mine and remnants of war clearance programs and to build permanent national technical capacity in this field.
- Support rehabilitation and long-term care programs for victims of these remnants, particularly in marginalized and most affected areas.
