On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 12-year-old Omar Jumaa Al-Aytan was killed by a landmine explosion in the Al-Fadasa area, near the Al-Tuwainan Oil Company in Jabal Al-Amur, in the eastern countryside of Homs Governorate. It should be noted that the area is under the control of the transitional government.
This area is among the sites that witnessed changes in control between the parties to the conflict, making determining who planted the mine extremely complex.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and gathering more evidence and information. Therefore, we hope that anyone with information or details related to this incident will provide them to us via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The mine explosion that killed Omar Al-Aitan is an example of the continuing threat posed by the conflict to civilians.
- The continued presence of landmines in populated areas or close to civilian activity, without their removal or warning to the population, constitutes a violation of positive protection obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly Article 10 of the Amended Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) on Mines, Booby-Traps, and Improvised Explosive Devices.
- The failure of the 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 stipulated in international humanitarian law.
- The inability to identify the party that planted 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 constitutes a threat to the right to life and physical 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, especially 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.
- Providing direct support to the families of victims, through urgent financial compensation, providing psychological and social support, and including them in assistance programs for victims of war remnants.
