Landmines Bury Dreams of Return in the Syrian Badia: When the Earth Becomes a Trap of Death

“It was a terrifying explosion… I heard the sound from the western side, where my brother and his wife had gone to check on their house. Dust rose intensely, and I rushed immediately towards the place, but the tragedy was more devastating than words can describe. I found their bodies torn apart, thrown far from the car that was completely destroyed,” says Ali al-Issa, his voice trembling as he recalls the day he lost his brother and his brother’s wife due to a landmine explosion.

After years of displacement, Ali and members of his family returned to their village of “Anbaj,” located west of the Tabqa oil fields, 45 kilometers from the city of Tabqa. Their goal for the visit was simple: to inspect the houses they had abandoned during the war and the regime forces’ control of the area, with the aim of returning and settling there.

Ali arrived at the family home at the entrance of the village, while his brother and his wife continued in their car towards their house, about 300 meters away. Only minutes passed before the sound of the explosion echoed.

For Ali al-Issa, the dream of returning to his village has become more distant than ever, not because his house is destroyed or services are lacking, but because the land itself has become a hidden enemy. “I never imagined that returning to my home would be a journey of death,” he says, recalling the moment of his brother and his wife’s death.

Land Booby-Trapped with Mines
Al-Rasafa Badia, extending towards other Badias in Deir Al-Zour and Homs, is considered one of the most dangerous Syrian regions due to the widespread remnants of war, most notably landmines. Since the withdrawal of the former Syrian regime forces and their allied militias in late 2024, these lands were left without maps or clear warnings, turning into silent death traps.

Ali’s story is not the only one; it is one of hundreds that embody the painful reality lived by thousands of residents of the Syrian Badia. Every step outside the house, or even inside it sometimes, could be their last.

Mohammed Hussein, a shepherd from the al-Rasafa Badia, recounts the details of his survival from landmines: “I was herding my sheep as usual, and suddenly a mine exploded under the flock’s feet. Fifteen sheep died instantly, but I miraculously survived,” says Mohammed, who goes out to the pastures every morning despite knowing the imminent danger, “I have no choice; this is my only source of livelihood.”

Mohammed is one of many shepherds and residents in the Syrian Badias who face the same danger daily in the absence of any effective programs for mine removal or awareness campaigns for local residents.

Absence of Action by Relevant Authorities
According to Ismail al-Mabrouk, the director of the fire department in the Tabqa region, most of the areas from which the regime and ISIS withdrew, especially Badias connected to Homs and Deir Al-Zour, suffer from the spread of mines. “We urge residents not to approach any suspicious objects and to report them immediately. If it is impossible to contact the relevant authorities, clear warning signs must be placed to prevent the recurrence of the disaster,” says al-Mabrouk.

Despite the passage of several months since the withdrawal of the former regime forces after the fall, the affected areas still suffer from almost complete neglect in mine clearance operations. Relevant international organizations, whether for mines or relief, have not registered an active presence, while there are no accurate statistics on the number of victims.
In the Syrian Badias, landmines remain a deadly barrier to the return of life.