Authorities in Syria announced Sunday that some of the country's worst wildfires in years have been brought under control following 10 days of intense firefighting in the heavily forested mountains of Latakia province. The fires, fueled by high winds, scorching summer temperatures, and unexploded ordnance left from Syria's 13-year conflict, scorched more than 15,000 hectares of forest. No civilian casualties were reported, although several firefighters sustained injuries due to road conditions and extreme heat, according to the Civil Defense. The blazes began in early July and spread rapidly through mountainous terrain, prompting a coordinated response involving ground crews, aerial firefighting units, and engineering teams who worked to carve out firebreaks. Syrian helicopters, including aircraft flown by former military defectors now rejoining government service, conducted continuous water drops over affected ridgelines. By Saturday evening, crews had successfully contained the fires on all fronts, according to Col. Ameen al-Ameen, who said teams worked "day and night" for 10 consecutive days. Cooling and monitoring operations continue on the ground to prevent flare-ups. Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh described the situation as "promising" and praised the efforts of local and international firefighting units, including support from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Qatar. He vowed that "not a single spark will be left behind." The United Nations also pledged $625,000 from the Syria Humanitarian Fund to support affected communities. Initial UN assessments suggest thousands have been displaced, with widespread damage to farmland and local infrastructure. U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Adam Abdelmoula warned of long-term consequences, emphasizing the need for urgent international support. "The wildfires have had catastrophic consequences on the local communities and require our immediate attention," he said. Experts note that climate change and below-average winter rainfall have worsened wildfire conditions across the eastern Mediterranean, contributing to severe water shortages in Syria this summer. — Agencies
