Syria Temporarily Closes Border Crossing with Turkey

Syria has temporarily closed the Kasab border crossing with Turkey due to rapidly spreading wildfires in the coastal mountain ranges that have reached dangerously close to the frontier.

The announcement was made on Saturday by Mazen Alloush, Director of Public Relations at the General Authority of Syrian Land and Sea Ports, who confirmed the closure via a statement on X.

He stated that Turkish authorities decided as a precautionary measure in response to the advancing fires in the Latakia countryside.

Firefighting and civil defense teams in Syria are actively engaged on three major fronts to contain the blaze: Burj Zahia, the forests of al-Furunluq, and the area surrounding Nab’ al-Mur near the town of Kasab.

These regions are particularly difficult to access due to dense forestation, rugged terrain, and the presence of landmines and wartime remnants.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, operations have been significantly hindered by strong winds, which have caused the flames to reignite and leap beyond established firebreaks. The situation is further complicated by the hazardous topography and the presence of unexploded ordnance.

The civil defense unit reported that wind gusts on Friday led to the rapid expansion of the fire, particularly in the Nab’ al-Mur sector, which remains one of the most challenging areas for containment efforts.