On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, four children were killed and five other civilians, including three children, were injured with varying degrees of severity following the explosion of an artillery shell of unidentified source that was left from a previous attack in Tseel town in western rural Daraa. Most of the victims were from the same family, and all from Tseel town. The area is under the control of the current transitional authorities in Syria.
According to reliable local sources, a group of civilians — mostly children — found the shell and began playing with it. Some of them were riding a motorcycle and carrying the shell with them before it fell and detonated, resulting in casualties.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) must stress that unexploded remnants of war continue to pose a severe threat to civilian lives, especially children, who may unknowingly handle such objects. SNHR has issued many reports on cluster munitions and war remnants, warning of their long-term impact, which includes not only fatalities but also permanent injuries and physical and psychological deformities.
SNHR calls on the transitional government and relevant international organizations to provide the necessary equipment and resources, and to support local teams, organizations, and official entities specialized in mine and war remnant clearance, in order to reduce risks and protect civilian lives.
