ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region’s Mine Action Agency has announced that a controlled detonation of 195 landmines will take place on Thursday in the Soran district.

This operation, conducted by the agency’s explosives destruction team, aims to safely remove these mines from a designated area.

“The sound of the explosion will be loud due to the destruction of these mines, so do not worry when you hear the sound,” the agency stated, alerting residents to anticipate loud blasts in the vicinity.

The presence of landmines in the Kurdistan Region dates back to the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, during which Iraqi forces planted extensive minefields along the borders to counter Iranian forces. Many areas, particularly near rural communities, remain dangerous, affecting local agriculture and livestock farming.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been prioritizing the clearance of mined areas to support infrastructure development, with a focus on boosting tourism and agriculture.

According to Iraq’s Ministry of Environment, around 2,000 square kilometers of mine-contaminated land remain uncleared across Iraq. Mustafa Hamid, spokesperson for the Iraqi Department of Mine Affairs, indicated that Iraq aims to clear all mined territories by 2028 under international agreements, having already addressed over half of the contaminated areas.