Mine ban policy overview

Policy

The Syrian Arab Republic (Syria) has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. Its position has not changed in recent years. While expressing concern for the plight of mine victims and support for risk education and other efforts to protect civilians, the Syrian government has stated that it views antipersonnel mines as necessary weapons for national defense and considers Israel’s continued annexation/occupation of part of the Golan Heights as a key reason for not joining the treaty.[1]

Syria has not attended any Mine Ban Treaty international meetings in 2011 or during the first half of 2012. It has rarely participated in Mine Ban Treaty meetings as an observer and not since 2006.[2]

Syria is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Production, transfer, stockpiling

Syria has generally not been known to have produced or exported antipersonnel mines. The size and origin of Syria’s mine stockpile is not known, but is believed to be large and consists mainly of Soviet/Russian-manufactured mines. In 2011 and 2012, government forces used PMN-2 antipersonnel mines and TMN-46 antivehicle mines indicating that these mines are stockpiled.

Use

After the Syrian Army was deployed to quell anti-government demonstrations in April 2011, the protests evolved into an armed conflict across the country that was continuing unabated as of October 2012. In 2011 and 2012, Syrian government forces used antipersonnel landmines, while non-state armed groups made some use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and claimed they would re-use mines recovered from Syrian positions.

On 1 November 2011, a Syrian official told media that “Syria has undertaken many measures to control the borders, including planting mines.”[3] The ICBL expressed concern at Syria’s “disregard” of the safety of civilians seeking to cross the border to flee the violence in Syria.[4]

In March 2012, Human Rights Watch documented new mine use on the Turkish border near Hasanieih (PMN-2), Derwand, Jiftlek, Kherbet al-Joz toward Alzouf and al-Sofan, Armana, Bkafla, Hatya, Darkosh, Salqin and Azmeirin.[5] New landmine use on the Lebanese border has been reported in al-Buni,[6] Tel Kalakh,[7] Kneissi,[8] Heet (PMN-2 and TMN-46 mines)[9] and Masharih al-Qaa.[10] Civilian casualties have been recorded from this mine use.

Several states condemned mine use by Syria as did the president of the Mine Ban Treaty’s Eleventh Meeting of States Parties, Prak Sokhonn of Cambodia.[11] States that expressed concern at the reported landmine use include Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, and the United States as well as European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton.

During 2012, there were reports of Syrian rebels manufacturing and using IEDs, primarily roadside bombs as well as Molotov cocktails and remotely-detonated devices.[12] Little is known about rebel use of victim-activated IEDs, which are prohibited by the Mine Ban Treaty’s definition of an antipersonnel mine.

In August 2012, a Syrian rebel told the media that they intended to re-use government antipersonnel mines that have been removed from the ground.[13] The ICBL called on the Free Syrian Army and all forces involved in the conflict in Syria to forbid their combatants from using landmines.[14]

Syria is thought to have last used mines during the 1982 conflict with Israel in Lebanon.