Firefighting crews, supported by the military and civilian volunteers, are engaged in a desperate battle against massive wildfires sweeping through the forests of Syria's Latakia province. The blazes, intensified by high temperatures and strong winds, have prompted a large-scale national response, the establishment of a joint military-civilian operations room, and the arrival of international support from Jordan.
The fires are raging across several areas in the Latakia countryside, particularly in the regions of al-Haffah and Jableh, including the heavily forested areas of Slunfeh, Rabiaa, and Kasab. Brigadier General Dawoud Amhiri, Commander of the Latakia Fire Brigade, confirmed that teams are working tirelessly to contain the flames and prevent them from reaching residential areas and vital facilities.
The effort is hampered by the rugged, mountainous terrain and dense forests, which make access for firefighting vehicles extremely difficult. "Our teams are creating fire lines to isolate the blazes and prevent their spread," Brig. Gen. Amhiri stated, highlighting the challenging conditions.
In response to the escalating crisis, a Joint Operations Room has been established in the province. Announced by Latakia Governor Amer Ismail Hilal, the command center integrates the efforts of the Latakia Governorate, Police Command, Syrian Arab Army units, and all relevant directorates. The operations room is tasked with coordinating the deployment of personnel and equipment around the clock to ensure an efficient and unified response aimed at protecting civilian lives, property, and the region's vital forests.
The scale of the disaster has mobilized resources from across the country. Firefighting units from the neighboring provinces of Tartous, Homs, and Hama have arrived to reinforce the local teams. They are joined by members of the Civil Defense, forestry departments, and the Syrian Arab Army, as well as local community members who have volunteered to aid the containment efforts.
Bassem Duba, the Head of the Forestry Department at the Latakia Agriculture Directorate, emphasized the coordinated nature of the response, noting that all available personnel and machinery have been deployed to the fire fronts.
Underscoring the severity of the situation, international assistance has begun to arrive. On Tuesday, specialized firefighting crews from the Jordanian Civil Defense Directorate crossed into Syria via the Jaber-Nassib border crossing. The Jordanian teams and their equipment are heading directly to Latakia to provide critical support to their Syrian counterparts in the ongoing battle to bring the devastating wildfires under control.