Latakia Forest Fires (July 2025)

The Latakia Forest Fires were large-scale forest fires that began on 3 July 2025 in the Bayirbucak region of Latakia Governorate in northwestern Syria and lasted for ten days. Fueled by a heatwave, strong winds, and mountainous terrain, the fires spread rapidly and reached the Turkish border area of Yayladağı district. The fires caused extensive damage to forests and agricultural lands in the region.

Origin and Spread of the Fires

The fires first broke out on 3 July 2025 in the villages of Kastal Maaf, Basit, Murtlu, Zinzif, Haffe, Belluran, Salihiye, and Nsibin in the Bayirbucak region. The areas most severely affected included the slopes of Kartal and Zahiye Mountains and the vicinity of 45 Hill, as well as the forests of Kastal Maaf, Kantara, Mezra, Beyt Mılık, and Fırınlık, and the village of Murtlu. The fires quickly spread to the northern rural areas of Latakia, reaching the villages of Gassaniye and Falak, and later impacted the surroundings of Sheikh Hasan village.

Geographical Challenges and Impact

The affected region presented major challenges for firefighting due to its rugged terrain, steep slopes, inadequate forest roads, and distant water sources. Additionally, unexploded ordnance left over from the 13-year civil war posed a serious threat to firefighting operations.

Latakia Governor Muhammad Osman announced that more than 14,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land had been damaged since 3 July. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that approximately 100 square kilometers of land had been destroyed, thousands of people had been evacuated, and rural infrastructure had suffered severe damage.

Response Operations

Firefighting efforts were conducted both on land and in the air. The Syrian Civil Defence deployed over 250 personnel across 62 different locations. Air support from aircraft and helicopters sent by Türkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Iraq played a crucial role in bringing the fires under control on multiple fronts.

Aid team from Qatar arrived at Aleppo International Airport with three aircraft, two fire-suppression helicopters, numerous fire trucks, and a 100-person field team. Türkiye dispatched two aircraft, eleven fire suppression vehicles, and water supply units to the region.

According to the Hatay Governorate, the fire reached the boundary of Yayladağı district on 11 July, where it was brought under control and cooling operations began. A total of 14 helicopters, seven aircraft, 215 vehicles, and 734 personnel were deployed in the response.

Injuries, Evacuations, and Security Measures

No civilian fatalities have been reported as a result of the fires, but at least ten Civil Defence personnel were injured, some affected by smoke inhalation. Dozens of families were evacuated from areas impacted by the fires.

Interior Minister Enes Hattab announced that several individuals suspected of being linked to the fires had been detained and that investigations into the incidents were ongoing. Additionally, patrol operations were conducted in the region to ensure the safety of firefighting teams.

International Assistance

Due to the scale of the fires, the Syrian government issued a call for international assistance. Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh stated that contact had been made with the European Union to request international support. Qatar also dispatched air and ground support teams to Aleppo International Airport to aid firefighting efforts.

The United Nations allocated $625,000 to support firefighting operations and coordinated with local authorities to address urgent needs in the region. Türkiye’s assistance included two fire-suppression aircraft, numerous fire trucks, and water supply vehicles.

Containment and Cooling Operations

After ten days of intensive response efforts supported by both local and international resources, the spread of the fires was halted and brought under control by 13 July 2025. The Syrian Civil Defence Authority announced that the fires had been extinguished on all fronts and that field teams were continuing cooling operations to prevent re-ignition.