Latest news with #SyrianAirForce
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Syria's massive wildfires brought under control after days of intense battles
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. Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said the firefighting efforts had reached a 'promising stage' by Saturday night. 'The scene is changing, the smoke is clearing and teams continue working intensively to extinguish remaining hotspots,' he said. The United Nations also stepped in to support the emergency response. U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, announced on Thursday the allocation of $625,000 from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to assist those affected. Initial U.N. assessments suggest thousands have been displaced, with significant damage to farmland, infrastructure, and livelihoods in the coastal region. U.N. agencies said they are coordinating closely with local authorities and stand ready to mobilize further aid if needed. 'The wildfires have had catastrophic consequences on the local communities and require our immediate attention,' said Abdelmoula. He called on international donors to step up, warning that 'timely and flexible funding is critical to saving lives and protecting communities in moments of crisis.' Al-Saleh praised the assistance of firefighting teams from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Qatar. 'We promise our people that we will not leave until the last spark has been extinguished,' he said. Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions that lead to blazes. Also, below-average rainfall over the winter left Syrians struggling with water shortages this summer, as the springs and rivers that normally supply much of the population with drinking water have gone dry.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Syria's massive wildfires brought under control after days of intense battles
LATAKIA, Syria — 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. Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said the firefighting efforts had reached a 'promising stage' by Saturday night. 'The scene is changing, the smoke is clearing and teams continue working intensively to extinguish remaining hotspots,' he said. The United Nations also stepped in to support the emergency response . U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, announced on Thursday the allocation of $625,000 from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to assist those affected. Initial U.N. assessments suggest thousands have been displaced, with significant damage to farmland, infrastructure, and livelihoods in the coastal region. U.N. agencies said they are coordinating closely with local authorities and stand ready to mobilize further aid if needed. 'The wildfires have had catastrophic consequences on the local communities and require our immediate attention,' said Abdelmoula. He called on international donors to step up, warning that 'timely and flexible funding is critical to saving lives and protecting communities in moments of crisis.' Al-Saleh praised the assistance of firefighting teams from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Qatar. 'We promise our people that we will not leave until the last spark has been extinguished,' he said. Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions that lead to blazes. Also, below-average rainfall over the winter left Syrians struggling with water shortages this summer, as the springs and rivers that normally supply much of the population with drinking water have gone dry.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Syria's massive wildfires brought under control after days of intense battles
LATAKIA, Syria (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. Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said the firefighting efforts had reached a 'promising stage' by Saturday night. 'The scene is changing, the smoke is clearing and teams continue working intensively to extinguish remaining hotspots,' he said. The United Nations also stepped in to support the emergency response. U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, announced on Thursday the allocation of $625,000 from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to assist those affected. Initial U.N. assessments suggest thousands have been displaced, with significant damage to farmland, infrastructure, and livelihoods in the coastal region. U.N. agencies said they are coordinating closely with local authorities and stand ready to mobilize further aid if needed. 'The wildfires have had catastrophic consequences on the local communities and require our immediate attention,' said Abdelmoula. He called on international donors to step up, warning that 'timely and flexible funding is critical to saving lives and protecting communities in moments of crisis.' Al-Saleh praised the assistance of firefighting teams from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Qatar. 'We promise our people that we will not leave until the last spark has been extinguished,' he said. Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions that lead to blazes. Also, below-average rainfall over the winter left Syrians struggling with water shortages this summer, as the springs and rivers that normally supply much of the population with drinking water have gone dry.
Arab News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Assad-era air force officer under EU, UK sanctions
DAMASCUS: Syria's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday a former air force officer who is under British and EU sanctions had been detained, the latest such arrest announcement since longtime ruler Bashar Assad's ouster. Authorities in the Harasta area outside Damascus 'arrested the criminal pilot Maj. Gen. Meezar Sawan,' the ministry said in a statement. It said he held several positions including commanding the 20th air force division at a military airport outside the capital. 'He is considered to be involved in issuing orders for warplanes to bomb areas revolting against the former regime' in the Ghouta areas, the statement said, referring to former rebel strongholds outside Damascus that were pounded during Syria's civil war. Sawan was transferred to the counter-terrorism department for further investigation, it said. The EU and UK sanctions lists also identify Sawan, born in 1954, as commander of the Syrian air force's 20th division. According to the EU, he was 'in post after May 2011,' the year Syria's conflict erupted with Assad's brutal repression of anti-government protests. 'As a senior officer in the Syrian air force he is responsible for the violent repression of the civilian population including attacks against civilian areas by aircraft operating from air bases under the control of the 20th Division,' the EU listing adds. Since opposition forces ousted Assad in December, the new authorities have occasionally announced the arrest of former security and other officials. This month, authorities arrested Wassim Assad, a cousin of the longtime ruler, in one of the most high-profile arrests so far. According to Syria observers, many high-ranking officials fled the country after Assad's fall.
Arab News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Netted: Assad-era air force officer under EU, UK sanctions
DAMASCUS: Syria's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday a former air force officer who is under British and EU sanctions had been detained, the latest such arrest announcement since longtime ruler Bashar Assad's ouster. Authorities in the Harasta area outside Damascus 'arrested the criminal pilot Maj. Gen. Meezar Sawan,' the ministry said in a statement. It said he held several positions including commanding the 20th air force division at a military airport outside the capital. 'He is considered to be involved in issuing orders for warplanes to bomb areas revolting against the former regime' in the Ghouta areas, the statement said, referring to former rebel strongholds outside Damascus that were pounded during Syria's civil war. Sawan was transferred to the counter-terrorism department for further investigation, it said. The EU and UK sanctions lists also identify Sawan, born in 1954, as commander of the Syrian air force's 20th division. According to the EU, he was 'in post after May 2011,' the year Syria's conflict erupted with Assad's brutal repression of anti-government protests. 'As a senior officer in the Syrian air force he is responsible for the violent repression of the civilian population including attacks against civilian areas by aircraft operating from air bases under the control of the 20th Division,' the EU listing adds. Since opposition forces ousted Assad in December, the new authorities have occasionally announced the arrest of former security and other officials. This month, authorities arrested Wassim Assad, a cousin of the longtime ruler, in one of the most high-profile arrests so far. According to Syria observers, many high-ranking officials fled the country after Assad's fall.
