On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Youssef Abdel Ghani al-Mohammad, a resident of Kafr Zita in the northern Hama countryside and a member of the Syrian Civil Defense’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, was killed by a cluster munition left over from previous shelling by Assad regime and Russian forces. The munition exploded while he was performing his duties clearing remnants of the conflict in the village of Kafr al-Tun, near al-Shiha in the northwestern Hama countryside. The area is under the control of the Syrian government.
We are continuing our investigation, including reviewing and gathering further evidence and information. We urge anyone with information or details related to this incident to contact us via our official email address. [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- Weapon remnants continue to pose a grave threat to the lives of civilians, especially children, who may handle these objects unaware of their dangers. The network has previously issued several reports on cluster munitions and weapon remnants, warning of their far-reaching effects, which extend beyond death to include 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 serious violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality, and entails legal responsibility.
- The lingering effects of these weapons after the conflict are an extension of previous violations, for which those who used them or left them uncleared bear primary responsibility, whether through causing harm or through negligence.
- Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees the right to life, which includes protecting the population from residual threats that endanger their lives even in times of peace.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights recommends:
- Organize and coordinate efforts to remove war remnants scattered throughout the country through a comprehensive national plan in partnership with relevant international organizations.
- Guarantee the rights of victims to access compensation, treatment, and psychological care, especially children and those with permanent disabilities resulting from these remnants.
- Identify contaminated areas and publicly publish maps of them, and activate community awareness campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of explosive devices.
- Cooperate with relevant international bodies such as UNMAS and the ICRC in developing technical and legislative standards for addressing war remnants.
- Supporting Syrian post-conflict efforts through funding, training, and equipment to ensure the effective and comprehensive removal of all remnants of war.
- Providing legal and technical support to document the use of prohibited weapons by parties involved, contributing to accountability and justice.
- Providing sustainable and direct funding for mine and explosive ordnance clearance programs and for building lasting national technical capacity in this field.
- Supporting rehabilitation and long-term care programs for victims of these remnants, particularly in marginalized and most affected areas.
