DAMASCUS — Syrian authorities announced Sunday that wildfires in the Latakia and Hama countryside had been fully extinguished following days of intense firefighting operations amid soaring summer temperatures.

The fires broke out on Tuesday in the eastern part of Latakia province and across central Syria’s Hama countryside, driven by extreme heat, drought, and strong winds that have exacerbated fire risks across the country this summer.

Interior Minister Raed Al-Salah confirmed on platform X that civil defense teams had put out the flames and completed cooling operations in affected areas.

“The safety of citizens and the protection of forests will always remain a top priority,” he said, emphasizing that the regions remain under close surveillance to prevent flare-ups.

Syria has witnessed a sharp increase in wildfire activity this season. In July, fires raged through mountain forests in Latakia for 12 consecutive days, destroying more than 16,000 hectares of woodland and farmland.

The disaster impacted 45 villages and displaced nearly 1,200 families, according to official figures.

Civil defense teams continue to monitor forest zones across multiple provinces as high temperatures persist. — Agencies