A 20-year-old shepherd was killed Thursday morning in a TNT explosion in the Amedi district of Duhok province, local authorities confirmed.

The victim, identified as H.F.A., an Arab from Nineveh province, died instantly after the blast, according to Masoud Boti, deputy director of Duhok’s health directorate. The incident occurred in an area declared off-limits due to ongoing conflict remnants.

Jabar Mustafa, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Mine Action Agency (IKMAA), stated that the explosion was caused by TNT, likely left behind from clashes between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Despite the PKK’s recent disarmament announcement, explosive remnants continue to pose a threat.

Iraq and the Kurdistan Region remain heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance from decades of war, including the Iran-Iraq War, the 1991 Gulf War, and the ISIS conflict. Nearly 40% of the region’s 250 million square meters of mine-affected areas remain uncleared.

Since January 2025, at least four people have died and three others have been injured in similar incidents. The Iraqi DMA and IKMAA are collaborating under a 2024 agreement to enhance clearance efforts until 2028.