Nine-year-old child killed in mortar shell explosion in Garmian village

GARMIAN — A nine-year-old child died after a mortar shell exploded while he was playing in the village of Haji Awad, located in Garmian’s Kifri district, according to a security source.

The source told 964media that the child was playing with the shell when it detonated. The child’s body has been transferred to the forensic department in Kalar for examination.

The Kurdistan Region remains heavily affected by landmine contamination and unexploded ordnance—a legacy of prolonged conflicts including the Iran-Iraq War, clashes with the former Baathist regime and ongoing regional instability. These remnants continue to pose a persistent threat to residents, especially in rural and isolated areas.

Jabbar Mustafa, director of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Mine Action Agency, previously told 964media that of the 776 square kilometers initially classified as mine-contaminated in the Kurdistan Region, 576 square kilometers have been cleared, leaving 200 square kilometers still hazardous. Mustafa reported that landmines have impacted 13,580 individuals, with approximately 5,000 fatalities.