On Friday, January 16, 2026, 11-year-old Mohammed Ahmed Assaf was killed, and another child was injured. Both children were from the village of al-Baraghithi in the eastern Idlib countryside when an unexploded ordnance detonated as they were herding livestock in the Hmeimat al-Deir area, near Abu al-Duhur Airport in eastern Idlib. 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.
Recommendations of the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
- Organize and coordinate efforts to remove explosive remnants of war (ERW) 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 ERW.
- Support Syrian post-conflict efforts through funding, training, and equipment, ensuring the effective and comprehensive removal of all ERW.
- 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 ERW removal programs, and for building permanent national technical capacities in this field.
- Support rehabilitation and long-term care programs for victims of these remnants, particularly in marginalized and most affected areas.
