On Monday, April 27, 2026, 11-year-old Ismail Ghazi Fleij, from the village of Al-Taybeh Al-Sharqiyah in the Al-Sukhnah district of eastern Homs Governorate, was killed when a cluster bomb remnant of the conflict exploded in the Al-Sukhnah desert in eastern Homs Governorate. He had been tampering with the bomb after finding it, sustaining severe injuries. He was rushed to the Al-Sukhnah clinic but died shortly before arrival due to his injuries. 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:
- Unexploded ordnance continues to pose a grave threat to the lives of civilians, especially children, who may handle these objects unaware of the dangers. The network has previously issued several reports on cluster munitions and other weapons remnants, warning of their long-term effects, which extend beyond death to include permanent injuries and physical and psychological trauma.
- The use of these types of weapons in populated areas by Assad regime forces and Russian forces in recent 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 direct action or 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:
- Organizing and coordinating efforts to remove explosive remnants of war (ERW) scattered throughout the country, through a comprehensive national plan in partnership with relevant international organizations.
- Ensuring the rights of victims to access compensation, treatment, and psychological care, especially children and those with permanent disabilities resulting from these remnants.
- Identifying contaminated areas and publicly disseminating their maps, and activating community awareness campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of explosive devices.
- Cooperating with relevant international bodies such as UNMAS and the ICRC in developing technical and legislative standards for addressing ERW.
- Supporting Syrian post-conflict efforts through funding, training, and equipment, to ensure the effective and comprehensive removal of all ERW.
- Providing legal and technical support to document the use of prohibited weapons by the parties involved, contributing to accountability and justice.
- Providing sustainable and direct funding for mine and ERW clearance programs, and for building permanent national technical capacities in this field.
- Supporting rehabilitation and long-term care programs for victims of these remnants, particularly in marginalized and most affected areas.
