On Friday, July 25, 2025, Muhammad Akef Khalil, his wife, Mrs. Widad Ahmad Marei, and their young son, Yazan, were killed. Three others, including a child and a woman, were injured with varying degrees of severity, all from the same family. This happened when unexploded ordnance (UXO) exploded inside their home in the town of Termanin in the northern countryside of Idlib Governorate. The area where the incident occurred is under the control of the transitional government.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, a large explosion occurred inside the family home while one of its members was attempting to dismantle unexploded ordnance (UXO), causing extensive destruction to the house and resulting in the deaths and injuries of family members.
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 killing 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 undetected bear primary responsibility, whether for causation or negligence.
- Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees the right to life, which includes protecting civilians 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 for children and those permanently disabled as a result of these remnants.
- Identify contaminated areas and publish their maps publicly, and launch community awareness campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of explosive remnants of war.
- 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 capacities in this field.
- Support rehabilitation and long-term care programs for victims of these remnants of war, particularly in marginalized and most affected areas.
