Authorities remove mines, unexploded ordnance in Sulaymaniyah

SULAYMANIYAH — Mine Action Directorate teams responded Wednesday to reports of mines and unexploded ordnance in Darbandikhan and Bardaqaraman following public alerts of dangerous remnants in the areas.

In Darbandikhan’s Sirwan subdistrict, several residents reported discovering a VS-50 type mine near the lake. The Halabja Mine Action Directorate deployed a team to the site, defused the device, and transferred it to a secure location for future disposal.

The Kurdistan Region remains heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance after decades of conflict, including the Iran-Iraq War, fighting under the Baathist regime and later instability. Rural communities are particularly exposed, with mines threatening both lives and livelihoods.

Separately, security personnel in Bardaqaraman contacted the Mine Action Directorate to report the presence of a 60 mm mortar shell and an RPG warhead that had surfaced due to rainfall and soil movement. A disposal team from the Sulaymaniyah Mine Action Directorate recovered the items and relocated them safely.

The Mine Action Directorate reiterated its warning to the public about the risk of mines and unexploded ordnance surfacing due to recent rainfall and land shifts. Residents are urged not to touch suspicious objects and to immediately report them.

Earlier this month, Erbil’s General Directorate of Mine Affairs warned that heavy rainfall could dislodge landmines and carry them into roads and residential areas, increasing the risk to civilians.

Official figures show landmine explosions caused 11 casualties in the Kurdistan Region in 2024, including four deaths and seven injuries or amputations. In 2023, there were 23 incidents, resulting in 10 fatalities and 13 injuries.