Latakia: Efforts to extinguish forest fires in the Latakia countryside, Syria, continue for the seventh consecutive day, amid difficult conditions faced by firefighting teams from within and outside Syria.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the fires have consumed approximately 14,000 hectares of forests and agricultural land, including 28 sites that have been completely reduced to ash, making this disaster one of the most dangerous fires the region has witnessed in recent years.

Sixteen firefighting aircraft from Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon have participated in the extinguishing operations so far, and the number is expected to increase to 20 to bolster air efforts. Specialized ground vehicles are also operating on the ground, supporting local and international firefighting teams. These efforts are accompanied by ongoing coordination through a joint operations room comprising relevant ministries and international agencies, with the aim of controlling the fires and protecting vital areas such as the Farnaq Nature Reserve, which is of great environmental importance.

However, significant challenges remain. Rugged terrain, such as steep slopes and dense forests, hinders teams from reaching the fires’ epicenters, especially in the Sheikh Hassan and Qastal Maaf areas. Strong winds are also contributing to the rapid spread of the fires, despite attempts to create “fire lines” using heavy machinery to isolate some hotspots. In addition, remnants of war, including mines and unexploded ordnance, pose a direct threat to the safety of firefighters and further complicate the situation on the ground.

Meanwhile, more than 25 families were evacuated from the Ghassaniya area in the Kasab subdistrict after flames approached. Officials warned nearby residents not to leave and urged them to wear masks due to the thick smoke that has clouded the skies of neighboring governorates such as Idlib and Tartous. In a preemptive move for the next phase, the Syrian government launched the “With Our Hands We Revive It” campaign, aiming to reforest affected areas and assist residents who lost their property due to the fires.

While there are some positive indications that the fires may soon be contained, the real challenge lies in developing long-term plans for forest rehabilitation and building an early warning system to address such disasters in the future.