Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Up to July 9, 2025, wildfires have also ravaged northwestern Syria’s Mediterranean province of Latakia, forcing mass evacuations and widespread international relief campaigns. Thus far, over 10,000 hectares of farms and forests have been reduced to ashes. Firefighting efforts have been unsafe because of mountainous terrain, high winds, and presence of unexploded ordinance. Syrian authorities have appealed for international assistance, calling upon the European Union and regional neighbors to assist them while matters continue to escalate.

To fight the devastating wildfires, Syria has received much assistance from surrounding states, and there will probably be more international aid:

has deployed two firefighting aircraft, 11 fire trucks, and water support vehicles. Additionally, Turkey has sent specialized teams to assist in containment efforts.

has contributed two Black Hawk helicopters, equipped with firefighting crews and equipment.

has provided two firefighting aircraft to aid in the operation.

More assistance has also been sought after from the and humanitarian aid teams have been sent to assess the crisis and provide relief aid.

The Syrian Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management has also launched broad-scale measures to meet the fires, and 160 firefighting vehicles and 12 engineering vehicles were put in action. More than 20 firefighting aircraft have been mobilized until now, and regional neighbors and international partners have also pledged assistance. Most of the fires are contained right now in governorates of Latakia, Baniyas, and Tartus, which have experienced wide-scale deforestation, illegal logging, and environmental degradation for decades due to the ongoing civil war that engulfs the region.

There have also been extreme disruptions to travel, both in Syria and throughout the region. Flights have been cancelled and delayed because of the smoke and decreasing visibility, which has most severely affected fire-affected regions.

: So far, there are no cancellation confirmations, but there are chances of delays due to low visibility resulting from smoke.

: Also, cancellations have not yet been confirmed, but it will have delays due to low visibility caused by smoke.

: Motorists on the M1 Motorway, which runs between Homs and Latakia, have had their route disrupted, hindering people’s movement between Syrian interior regions and coastal regions. Certain local roads within Latakia, including those within Al Ghassaniya and Ras Al Basit, have also been shut, thereby causing mass disruption within domestic travel.

: All train services via SNCF between Tartus, Marseille, and other areas have been suspended or are running a shortened schedule because of fires being close to train lines.

The wildfires will persist because Syrian weather will remain severe. High temperatures and low humidity will occur in the following week, which will increase the fire situation further.

: High temperatures will range between 88°F (31°C) to 94°F (34°C), with lows between 75°F (24°C) and 79°F (26°C).

: Expect highs between 95°F (35°C) and 103°F (40°C), with lows between 62°F (16°C) and 69°F (20°C).

: Highs will be 97°F (36°C) to 105°F (40°C), lows will be 74°F (23°C) to 77°F (25
The heatwave, also accompanied by dryness and strong winds, will continue to worsen the fires. These are also predicted to continue to hamper firefighting operations and further deteriorate air quality in affected areas.

The fires have had long-term environmental and humanitarian effects. Latakia, Syria’s bread basket, has suffered severe losses, and the fires continue to engulf large areas of arable land and forest. This comes at a doubly high cost because Syria has suffered one of the driest droughts on record, draining water supplies and compelling the country to import more wheat. Thousands have been displaced by the fires, which have had a severe humanitarian cost, and unexploded ordnance in some areas is causing heightened concern about potential harm to both people who are in their homes and workers who are responding to the disaster.

They have also destroyed Syria’s tourism sector. Latakia, being abundant in natural beauty and culture, has also suffered greatly. Several sites of tourism, including ecotourism and archeological sites, have been damaged or will probably be destroyed. This will lead to long-term losses in tourism, most prominent of which are ecotourism and foreign-visited sites of culture.

: Latakia, which contains several areas of greenbelt, has suffered severe degradation of forests, decreasing the region’s appeal for ecotourism.

: Fire impacts certain Mediterranean beaches and ancient Rome architecture in the area that are key attractions for cultural tourism.

Despite ongoing firefighting operations, it remains likely for the situation to continue for yet further days due to adverse weather conditions, mountainous regions, and limited resources. International support will also have a significant part to play in helping to alleviate the current situation, with support that will continue from regional states, the EU, and humanitarian organizations. Authorities are appealing to residents and tourists to remain vigilant and continue to monitor the developing situation.
Its government and foreign partners are now dedicated to immediate support to displaced families and stabilization of affected areas. Restoration of affected environments and infrastructures on a long-term basis, however, will require much-needed resources and support from the international community.

Key Points:

: Flights and airport delays are probable, including cancelled train services and road closures in areas most severely struck by fires.

: It will stay hot and dry, further deteriorating the wildfire conditions.

: Serious disruption of local tourism, most severely in Latakia, which suffered damages to natural and cultural sites.

: Ongoing aid from regional neighbors and international organizations will be essential in alleviating the humanitarian situation.

The wildfires in Syria’s Latakia have become a great environmental, humanitarian, and economic catastrophe. Following widespread international aid and local firefighting efforts, fire containment and aid to displaced people stand first, but overall, things are still fragile, and there will continue to be a long-term requirement for aid if their devastating impacts are to be reversed in that region.