8-year-old girl killed by landmine explosion in southern Iraq

BASRA – An eight-year-old girl lost her life Wednesday when a landmine exploded in her home after she brought it from nearby farmlands in Khor Al-Zubair, Basra governorate.

The incident occurred when the girl found the unexploded device while playing behind the family’s farm. She took it into her home, where it detonated as she was handling it.

“The girl discovered the landmine while playing and brought it into her room, unaware of its dangers,” the source said.

Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the landmine ended up in the area and to prevent similar incidents in the future. Khor Al-Zubair has previously been identified as an area with unexploded ordnance from past conflicts, posing ongoing risks to residents.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance, remnants of Iraq’s tumultuous past including the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, and conflicts with ISIS, remain a persistent threat. According to the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, nearly 35,000 Iraqis had been killed or injured by landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices by the end of 2022.

Southern governorates, areas near the Iranian border, and parts of the Kurdistan Region are among the most affected regions.

The UN Mine Action Service estimates that dozens of Iraqis die annually from explosive remnants, while 8.5 million of the country’s 43 million people live under constant threat. On November 11, 2024, Iraq’s Ministry of Environment announced the clearance of 4,000 square kilometers of contaminated land, with a goal of achieving complete demining by 2028.