Mines and Unexploded Ordnance Continue to Pose Deadly Threat in Israel
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
An explosion of old ordnance on the Ramim ridge killed a student and injured 19 others, highlighting the ongoing danger of mines and unexploded munitions in Israel. Numerous incidents over the past decade have resulted in casualties, including soldiers and civilians, with some leading to amputations and investigations. The IDF estimates thousands of minefields remain, particularly in northern Israel and the Golan Heights. The Ministry of Defense urges the public to report suspicious objects to the police and not to approach them.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A munition explosion on the Ramim ridge killed one student and injured 19 others on a tour.
- Old mines and unexploded ordnance continue to pose a deadly threat in northern Israel and former combat zones.
- Several incidents in recent years have resulted in casualties, including soldiers and civilians, with some requiring amputations.
- The IDF estimates approximately 4,000 minefields remain in the Northern Command area alone.
- The National Demining Authority has cleared thousands of dunams but dangerous areas persist.
- The Ministry of Defense advises the public to report suspicious objects and not to approach them.
A recent incident on the Ramim ridge, where a munition explosion killed a student and injured 19 others on a tour, has renewed attention to the persistent danger of old mines and unexploded ordnance in northern Israel and former combat zones. This is not an isolated event; similar tragedies have occurred over the years. In March 2023, two IDF soldiers were injured by an old mine near the Lebanese border during engineering work, with preliminary findings suggesting the mine may have shifted over time and the incident was not enemy-related. Previously, in February 2018, seven soldiers sustained minor injuries when their military vehicle struck a mine in the Jordan Valley. In 2015, an army officer lost a leg after a mine explosion on the Golan Heights. In May 2013, a 19-year-old combat engineer, Roi Israel Alfi, was killed while attempting to locate and neutralize mines near the settlement of Yonatan, an incident that led to the suspension of his company commander due to procedural violations. A family of five was injured in February 2010 while walking on the Golan Heights, with an 11-year-old boy losing part of his leg. The family reported no visible warnings or fences, sparking public debate that contributed to legislation for a national demining authority.
More recently, in September 2025, a reservist military rabbi, Liraz Zeira, suffered severe injuries requiring double amputation after stepping on an old Syrian mine at a post in southern Syria. In August of the same year, four Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded by an old Syrian grenade during an IDF operation on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
According to IDF data from 2022, the Northern Command area contains approximately 4,000 minefields covering about 85,000 dunams. The National Demining and Unexploded Ordnance Authority has cleared around 9,000 dunams and removed about 200,000 munitions since its inception, but dangerous areas persist, particularly on the Golan Heights, in the Jordan Valley, and the Arava. The Ministry of Defense warns that old ordnance can detonate spontaneously and advises the public not to approach, touch, or attempt to neutralize suspicious objects, but to retreat to a safe distance and immediately contact the police.
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