ERBIL — Two Peshmerga soldiers of the Kurdistan Region on Monday were wounded in the subdistrict of Deraluk in Duhok province after a planted bomb exploded under a vehicle they were operating.

The Kurdish soldiers were building a road in Deraluk near the town of Amedi when a planted bomb exploded under their excavator, according to information BasNews has learned.

One of them sustained minor injuries, and was therefore discharged from the hospital after receiving the necessary medical treatment. The other Peshmerga soldier is in stable medical conditions, and remains in the hospital in Amedi for close monitoring, a source from the hospital told BasNews today.

During the eight-year conflict between Iraq and Iran, extensive mining occurred in Kurdistan Region's border areas and certain urban locations to deter Iranian advances into Iraqi territory. This led to thousands of explosive ordnances scattered across battlefields, with some areas still heavily mined, posing challenges for nearby farmers and impeding agricultural and pasturage activities.

Under the current cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the Mine Action Agency has intensified its efforts to clear the remaining minefields, creating more arable land and supporting the growth of the tourism and agriculture industries.