20 Iraqi Firefighting Teams Head to Syria to Extinguish Latakia Fires

In an urgent response and a show of solidarity with Syria, the Iraqi Civil Defense Directorate announced yesterday evening its readiness to send 20 specialized firefighting teams to the province of Latakia to participate in extinguishing the raging fires that broke out since the third of July, causing extensive damage to forests and agricultural areas.

Brigadier General Hassan Ibrahim, the director of civil defense in Baghdad/Al-Rusafa, confirmed in statements reported by the "WAA" agency that this step came under direct orders from the Iraqi Minister of Interior and the Civil Defense Director, as part of a national and humanitarian movement to support "brothers in Syria" and help reduce the environmental, material, and human losses caused by the fires.

On the other hand, the Iraqi Civil Defense media director, Nuaas Sabah, explained that the participating teams consist of specialized personnel equipped with modern firefighting equipment and are currently in full readiness to depart in the coming hours.

He noted that the logistical preparations are almost complete, and final arrangements are being made to ensure a swift and effective movement towards Syrian territories.

Latakia province is witnessing an unprecedented wave of fires since the beginning of the month, amid rising temperatures and the difficulty of controlling the rapidly spreading fires to new areas, necessitating regional reinforcement of technical and field support to confront this dangerous environmental challenge.

The Iraqi initiative represents a strong message of solidarity that reflects the depth of fraternal relations between the Iraqi and Syrian peoples, adding to regional efforts aimed at containing the repercussions of the disaster and preserving the environment and humanity simultaneously.