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Arab Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Syria's massive wildfires brought under control after days of intense battles
LATAKIA, Syria, July 13, (AP): Some of Syria's worst wildfires in years have been brought under control as of Sunday, according to the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, following days of grueling firefighting in the forested countryside of the coastal Latakia province. The blazes, which started 10 days ago and swept through the heavily wooded area of several mountain ranges, were fanned by strong winds, scorching summer heat and unexploded ordnance left behind from the country's 13-year civil war. 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.
Jordan News
06-07-2025
- General
- Jordan News
Joint Operations Room Established to Combat Latakia Wildfires - Jordan News
Joint Operations Room Established to Combat Latakia Wildfires With wildfires continuing to spread across the forests of Syria's coastal region, the Syrian Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management has announced the establishment of a joint field operations room. The initiative, formed in cooperation with several active Syrian organizations, aims to provide logistical and on-ground support to firefighting efforts in northern Latakia countryside. اضافة اعلان Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Al-Saleh, stated in a post on the 'X' platform that the operations room has begun its tasks, which include securing water transport vehicles to assist firefighting teams, organizing volunteer units trained in wildfire suppression, and providing heavy machinery to carve out firebreaks and help contain the blaze. The minister expressed his appreciation to the participating organizations and all individuals offering support and assistance during these difficult circumstances. Firefighting crews have now been battling the blazes for four consecutive days, despite major challenges including harsh weather conditions, strong winds, and the presence of war remnants that pose serious risks to their safety. — SANA
Jordan News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Under Royal Directives, Jordanian Firefighting Teams Join Efforts to Extinguish Syria Wildfires - Jordan News
Under Royal Directives, Jordanian Firefighting Teams Join Efforts to Extinguish Syria Wildfires Under Royal directives, Jordan's Public Security Directorate dispatched specialized firefighting teams from Civil Defense on Sunday morning to assist their Syrian counterparts in combating wildfires in the city of Latakia. اضافة اعلان In an official statement, the Public Security Directorate confirmed that the firefighting teams were fully equipped with all necessary modern tools and machinery to carry out their mission effectively. The teams have already crossed into Syrian territory and are set to begin operations immediately upon arrival at the fire sites, working alongside other firefighting crews involved in the suppression efforts. Meanwhile, Syria's Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management announced the formation of a joint field operations room in cooperation with several active Syrian organizations. The initiative aims to provide logistical and field support in response to the expanding wildfires in the northern countryside of Latakia and across the Syrian coastal forests. Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed Al-Saleh stated via a post on the 'X' platform that the operations room has begun its duties, which include providing water transport vehicles for firefighting teams, organizing volunteer units trained in fire suppression, and supplying heavy equipment to cut firebreaks and help contain the spread of the flames. The minister expressed gratitude to the participating organizations and individuals who are offering their support during these challenging times. Firefighting teams have been battling the blazes for four consecutive days, despite severe challenges including harsh weather conditions, strong winds, and the presence of war remnants that hinder efforts and pose serious risks to the crews. — Al-Mamlaka / SANA
