Norway condemns use of landmines in Syria

Norway is concerned by reports that Syria has planted new landmines near its borders with Turkey and Lebanon.

“These are weapons that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The use of landmines will affect the Syrian population for many years to come. This is just the latest in a string of atrocities against civilians that are now being reported from Syria,” Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented.

Human Rights Watch has reported a number of cases of antipersonnel and antivehicle mines being planted in Syria’s border areas with Turkey and Lebanon. These reports are based on multiple accounts from civilian witnesses and Syrian mine clearers associated with the opposition. Moreover, the Syrian authorities have also made clear on a number of occasions that there are landmines in the conflict areas.

“The number of refugees crossing the borders is now increasing considerably, and landmines in the border areas are a major threat for these people who are fleeing the violence in Syria,” Mr Støre said.

Syria is not a State Party to the Mine Ban Convention, which has 159 States Parties, including Norway and Turkey. The Mine Ban Convention has established a norm, which has led to the vast majority of countries, including countries that are not States Parties, refraining from using antipersonnel mines. This is due to the civilian suffering they cause, both during a conflict and long after hostilities have ceased. It is therefore rare to hear of countries planting new landmines.