Landmine blast claims life of child in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – A child was killed on Wednesday when a landmine left from previous fighting exploded in the Deir ez-Zor countryside in eastern Syria.
A local source from the village of al-Heri told North Press that 12-year-old Ghiath al-Hamoud died after a landmine detonated while he was herding sheep on the outskirts of the village’s desert area.
According to the source, the mine had been buried under dirt and exploded when sheep stepped on it, killing the boy and several animals from the herd.
The source added that the desert surrounding al-Heri remains heavily contaminated with landmines. Although authorities have cleared dozens of them, the area is still littered with explosive remnants of war due to its control by multiple armed factions since 2011.