WATCH: Israel performs controlled detonation of land mines on Golan Heights

The detonations were carried out by IEOD, an Israeli firm that won the tender issued by the Defense Ministry.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Controlled explosion of land mines in the Golan Heights in 2015 (credit: NATIONAL MINE ACTION AUTHORITY / IEOD)
The Defense Ministry's National Mine Action Authority this past week completed the controlled detonation of dozens of unexploded mines scattered across 25 hectares of land on the Golan Heights.
The explosions, which took place near the Golan community of Shnir, are the continuation of an effort to rid the country of land mines. Earlier this year, the authorities carried out controlled detonations of land mines across 15 hectares in the Banias region.
The detonations were carried out by IEOD, an Israeli firm that won the tender issued by the Defense Ministry.
There are thousands of unexploded minefields throughout Israel. The mines were planted to thwart invading soldiers and tanks during the initial decades of the state's existence.
The government is intent on removing the remaining mines in order to free up territory for civilian uses like hiking and travel.