Has Syria turned a corner on the landmine threat?

While Syria's security landscape has shifted since the fall of the Assad regime, the deadliest threat to civilians is no longer concentrated on active frontlines. Instead, it lies hidden beneath the ground. Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) continue to kill and injure civilians across the country.

Muaz Al Abdullah, Middle East Research Manager at ACLED, said:

“Since the fall of the Assad regime, ACLED records 1,489 incidents involving landmines and ERW, resulting in at least 1,304 reported fatalities. Between January and 29 May 2026 alone, these devices reportedly killed at least 243 people, underscoring their enduring human toll even as overall levels of violence have declined.

“The threat, however, appears to be gradually easing. ACLED records 314 landmine and ERW incidents between January and 29 May 2026, down from 673 during the same period in 2025. Reported fatalities also fell from 681 to 243 over the same timeframe. This decline coincides with ongoing clearance operations; according to the Syrian Defense Ministry, more than 110,000 mines and explosive remnants of war were dismantled across several provinces during the first three months of 2026 alone."

“Yet the danger remains widespread. In Deir ez-Zor, civilians continue to enter these dangerous areas in search of livelihoods, particularly during truffle-harvesting season. The town recorded the highest number of landmine and ERW incidents since the regime's fall, with 327 events through 29 May 2026, followed by Aleppo with 286. At least 52 farmers have reportedly been killed there since Assad’s ousting, accounting for nearly a quarter of the at least 220 farmers reported killed by landmines and ERW across Syria.”

For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact the ACLED Press Office.