Syria's massive wildfires brought under control after days of intense battles
Firefighters faced hazardous conditions with support from aerial teams and engineering units working to open firebreaks in the dense terrain. In a statement, the Civil Defense said the spread of the fire was halted on Sunday morning, following "extensive efforts by firefighting teams and both helicopter and glider aircraft.'
Crews remain on the ground conducting cooling operations and monitoring the area to prevent new flare-ups, it added. More than 15,000 hectares of forest were burned, according to Abed al-Kafi Kayal, a civil defense team leader. "There are no injuries among residents,' he told The Associated Press. "Some firefighters were hurt, mostly from slipping, road conditions or the intensity of the flames.' Firefighting helicopters swept low over ridgelines on Saturday, dumping water onto hotspots as ground crews worked below to contain flare-ups.
Among the pilots were defectors who had left the Syrian Air Force in 2012 during the uprising against President Bashar Assad. Now, some have rejoined under the new government and are contributing to the emergency effort. Col. Ameen al-Ameen, who returned to service after 14 years, said his team has been flying "day and night' for 10 consecutive days.
"We are extinguishing fires and doing our duty toward our country and people, who need us after this long period,' he said. By Saturday evening, teams had successfully contained hotspots on all fronts. The civil defense statement praised the "tremendous efforts' of Syrian firefighters along with Turkish and Arab support teams, and noted that roads and fire lines were being cut through the forest to help prevent future spread.
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