It is believed that only a 300 metre to 450 metre wide strip of the border is mined, with the majority of the explosives placed there during the 1950s.

According to Turkish defence minister, Vecdi Gonul, "De-mining [will] begin in May. The first thing we will do after clearing [the area] is to search for oil."

"Syria is producing oil on the other side of the border, whereas we can't because the region is mined," added Gonul, who also announced that - once the prospecting was done - some of the land will be turned into agricultural land.

This move comes on the back of an announcement made by the Turkish government last year when it stated that it would clear fertile land bordering Syria of mines and open the land up for farming.