Wildfires have flared up once again across Syria’s coastal mountains over the past two nights, with rapid spread and expanding fire zones reported in the Lattakia countryside.
According to Abdel Kafi Kayyal, director of the Syrian Civil Defense, the fires have advanced along two main fronts: from Qastal Maaf toward Jabal al-Nisr (Eagle Mountain), and from Atira toward Jabal al-Turkman (Mount Turkman).
Kayyal told Enab Baladi that the fires have reached a deep, rugged valley contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance, where strong winds have accelerated the spread of the flames.
In such conditions, standard containment techniques—such as firebreaks, isolating the fireline, and cooling—are often ineffective. Wind-driven embers can ignite new blazes up to 500 meters away, creating dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior, according to Kayyal.
So far, an estimated 15,000 hectares of forest have burned in the Lattakia countryside, with most of the damage concentrated in the Qastal Maaf area and Mount Turkman.
The most challenging areas currently being targeted for containment are Jabal al-Nisr and the densely forested and rugged Farnlaq area, extending toward Atira. The terrain is difficult to access, and the presence of war remnants complicates ground operations.
Kayyal noted that the Qastal Maaf–Kassab highway was temporarily closed overnight due to fire activity on both sides of the road. The flames were contained, and the route has since been reopened and secured for use.
More than 150 field teams are actively involved in the response, working under a fully coordinated operations room. The teams include the Syrian Civil Defense, regional forestry fire brigades, provincial firefighting units, volunteers, and other institutions.
Over 300 vehicles are engaged in the effort, alongside dozens of logistical support units, 18 bulldozers, and heavy equipment used to cut fire lines and clear access routes for fire trucks.
Cross-border firefighting support from Iraq
Kayyal also confirmed the arrival of firefighting teams from Iraq on Friday, July 11, to assist in containment efforts. Twenty Iraqi fire engines and accompanying personnel are expected to join the response.
Firefighting teams from Jordan and Lebanon are already active in the area, alongside ground and aerial support from Turkey and the Syrian Air Force.
Kayyal emphasized that while significant progress is being made in controlling the fires, full extinguishment has not yet been achieved. A major challenge remains the frequent and sudden shifts in wind direction, which can rapidly redirect the flames and disrupt field operations.
He also noted the immense difficulty of fighting wildfires, which require enormous quantities of water and are often more complex than many realize.
Earlier this week, Syria’s Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh, reported that more than 15,000 hectares of farmland and forest have burned across the coastal region.
In a statement posted to X on July 9, al-Saleh described the extent of the damage as catastrophic, noting that authorities are now developing a comprehensive strategy to protect forests and prevent similar disasters in the future.
Thursday, July 10, marked the “most intense and devastating day of wildfires so far,” according to local sources in rural Lattakia who spoke to Enab Baladi. Fires reached dense, mountainous forestland stretching between Sheikh Hassan and Mount 45—an area known for its natural beauty and once popular as a summer retreat in Syria’s coastal region.
Wildfires Reignite and Spread in Lattakia as Iraq Joins Firefighting Efforts Enab Baladi.
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