Project Masam’s Special Task Team 2 has safely destroyed 6,009 landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) in the Bab al-Mandab area of Taiz Governorate, western Yemen on Wednesday (1 July 2026), following the completion of all transportation, preparation and safety procedures in accordance with approved explosive ordnance disposal standards.
The bulk demolition included 109 assorted artillery shells, 3,012 fuzes, 2,769 rounds of ammunition, 29 anti-personnel mines, 53 anti-tank mines, seven hand grenades, eight rockets, 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and 12 armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds.
Yasser Al-Mazloumi, a member of Special Task Team 2, said the explosive items had been recovered during ongoing survey and clearance operations across the western coastal districts of Hudaydah and Taiz governorates, as well as Al Dhale Governorate, as part of Project Masam’s continued efforts to protect civilians from landmines and ERW.
He warned that explosive remnants of war continue to pose a serious threat because of their unstable condition and the risk of detonation at any moment, emphasising that their safe destruction is essential to protecting lives, improving security and enabling communities to return safely to their homes and livelihoods.
Al-Mazloumi also highlighted the devastating human impact of explosive remnants, referring to a recent incident in Al-Raybi, Al Dhale Governorate, where more than 13 children were killed or injured after an unexploded ordnance detonated while they were playing with it.
He urged residents never to approach suspicious objects or explosive remnants of war and to report them immediately to Project Masam teams or the relevant authorities, stressing that prompt reporting is vital to preventing further casualties.
The operation forms part of Project Masam’s ongoing humanitarian mission to clear landmines, unexploded ordnance and other ERW, reduce the risks they pose to civilians, and create the conditions for the safe return of normal life across Yemen’s liberated areas.
