Syria fights 'catastrophic' fires for fourth day

Syrian authorities said some 40 square miles of forest had "turned to ash" in wildfires in the province of Latakia. Syrian emergency workers have faced tough conditions including high temperatures, strong winds, rugged mountainous terrain in the coastal province.

The firefighters from Jordanian civil defence teams crossed into Syria to battle the fourth day of blazes on Sunday, after Türkiye sent assistance a day earlier. Syria's defence ministry said the air force was assisting, publishing images of a helicopter collecting and dropping water. The United Nations deputy envoy to Syria said in a statement that Damascus "needs more international assistance" to face the fires.