A number of the unexploded ordnance found in Hebasa Gula village, Sharbazher. Photo: Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Mine Affairs
Uncovered by rainfall in Sulaymaniyah governorate
36 items of unexploded ordnance discovered on private land
SHARBAZHER – A total of 36 explosive hazards, including various types of mortar shells, artillery shells, and other munitions, have been discovered on privately-owned land in Sharbazher.
Muhsin Sheikh Abdul Karim, head of mine affairs in Sulaymaniyah, told 964media the find followed a tip-off from local security forces about the presence of mines and wartime remnants on a resident’s property in Hebase Gula.
“Our teams were immediately dispatched to the site,” Abdul Karim said.
The unexploded ordnance discovered included 17 60mm mortar shells, eight 82mm mortar shells, one 120mm mortar shell, one 122mm artillery shell, one 105mm artillery shell, five VS50 mines, two RPG-7 launchers, and one hand grenade.
Abdul Karim noted that the ordnance and mines were uncovered due to erosion from rainfall. They were then removed by protection, technical services, and explosive ordnance disposal teams to a secure location for disposal.
Abdul Karim suggested that the unearthed unexploded ordnance likely dates back to actions by the military of the former Baath regime, used against Kurdish insurgents during the 1980s.
He highlighted that the Kurdistan Region contains over 7 million mines, with a significant concentration in the Sulaymaniyah governorate, though precise figures were not provided.