Syria: Jordan Makes Major Contribution to Extinguishing Latakia Wildfires - Jordan News

Jordan News

07-07-2025

The Syrian Civil Defense announced Monday that significant efforts have been made by its firefighting teams, as well as Jordanian and Turkish firefighting units, in combating the wildfires raging in Jabal al-Turkman and the Al-Furunluq forests in northern Latakia. اضافة اعلان Abdul-Kafi Kayyal, head of the Civil Defense in Syria's coastal region, confirmed that after five consecutive days of fire, teams are making progress in containing hotspots. He praised the Jordanian and Turkish crews for their substantial contributions in preventing the flames from spreading further into new forested areas. Currently, three zones are under direct threat: Ras al-Basit, Qastal Maaf, and Rabia, with efforts focused on preventing the fire from reaching Kassab, home to one of Syria's largest forest reserves. On Sunday morning, and under Royal directives, Jordan's Public Security Directorate deployed specialized firefighting teams from its Civil Defense Department to help battle the blazes. Additionally, the Jordanian Armed Forces dispatched two Black Hawk helicopters, fully equipped with advanced gear and trained personnel to aid in fire suppression and protect lives and property. Syria's Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Al-Saleh, stated that the joint operations—including ground and aerial firefighting missions—continue in coordination with Turkish and Jordanian teams. Their primary goal: to protect the Al-Furunluq reserve, one of the country's largest and most biodiverse forests. Al-Saleh added that Lebanon will soon join efforts with two firefighting helicopters expected to begin operations Monday, complementing Jordanian and Turkish initiatives launched over the past two days. Meanwhile, Syria's Ministry of Interior is dispatching additional personnel and logistical support to Latakia, working under a unified operations room established by the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management. The operation includes over 80 on-ground teams, 180 pieces of equipment, air units from the Syrian Army, and support from local volunteers and NGOs. So far, the wildfires have devastated more than 10,000 hectares, in what is described as the worst fire wave in recent memory. Firefighting teams face severe challenges, including rugged terrain, active war remnants such as landmines, intense winds, and poor forest infrastructure due to years of neglect by the former regime. The Ministry of Social Affairs has established an emergency task force to assist those displaced or affected by the fires, providing urgent humanitarian relief.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula stated that UN teams on the ground are conducting emergency assessments to gauge the scale of the disaster and urgent humanitarian needs. The UN is prepared to launch a multi-agency joint mission to Latakia, in coordination with Syrian authorities and partners, to evaluate the situation and explore immediate and long-term support solutions.