LATAKIA, Syria (AP) — Some of Syria’s worst wildfires in years have been brought under control as of Sunday, according to the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, following days of grueling firefighting in the forested countryside of the coastal Latakia province.

Fire disaster leaves behind years of recovery challenges amid climate crisis, war remnants, minister says, with over 16,000 hectares burned and around 1,200 families affected

The country is experiencing its worst drought in decades, which has set the conditions for the blazes to scorch an area the size of Washington, D.C.

Syria's defense minister announced a ceasefire shortly after government forces entered a key city in southern Sweida province on Tuesday, a day after sectarian clashes killed dozens there. Neighboring Israel again launched strikes on Syrian military forces,

Massive wildfires have torn through Syria’s coastal mountain region of Jabal Turkman since Thursday, destroying thousands of acres (hectares) of forest and overwhelming emergency services.

Israel's military said it struck the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus on Wednesday, stepping up attacks on the Islamist-led authorities with the declared aim of protecting the Druze minority from harm by government forces.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian Ministry of Defense in Damascus. Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border.

The announcement came a day after sectarian clashes that killed dozens, and after a state-run news agency report that Israel had launched a strike in the area.

Syrian government forces entered the battle-hit province of Suwayda on Tuesday, followed by an announcement of a complete cease-fire by the

Some of Syria’s worst wildfires in years have been brought under control as of Sunday, according to the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Emergency

Minister of Interior Mazen Farayah on Monday held a phone call with his Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab to express Jordan’s solidarity and follow up on efforts to contain the wildfires sweeping through Syria’s Latakia Governorate.