US, Russia Build up Reinforcements in Northeast Syria

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops are seen during a patrol near the Turkish border in Hasakah, Syria, in November. (photo credit: RODI SAID / REUTERS)
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops are seen during a patrol near the Turkish border in Hasakah, Syria, in November. (photo credit: RODI SAID / REUTERS)
TT
20

US, Russia Build up Reinforcements in Northeast Syria

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops are seen during a patrol near the Turkish border in Hasakah, Syria, in November. (photo credit: RODI SAID / REUTERS)
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US troops are seen during a patrol near the Turkish border in Hasakah, Syria, in November. (photo credit: RODI SAID / REUTERS)

Three Russian military convoys arrived in northeastern Syria, only days after similar reinforcements were deployed in the area by the US-led International Coalition.

Informed sources and locals said that 13 trucks loaded with materials and logistical equipment, five armored vehicles, large boxes loaded with ammunition and medium and heavy weapons had arrived at Qamishli Airport, which the Russian forces operate as their main base in Hasakah.

The military reinforcements departed from the Russian-run Hmeimim airbase near the Tartus port. They were transported via the international M4 highway with helicopter protection.

Sources confirmed that two planes had also landed at Qamishli Airport.

At the same time, a military tanker carrying Russian police soldiers arrived at its base in the Talat al-Badaa area, west of the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani).

Eight trucks carrying logistical materials, weapons and ammunition arrived at Tabqa military airport in the western countryside of Raqqa.

Russian fortifications coincided with the US-led International Coalition also deploying back up at outposts east of the Euphrates. Since the beginning of March, three military convoys and arms shipments had arrived at Coalition positions in Hasakah and the eastern countryside of Deir Ez-Zor.

Russian forces and their Turkish counterparts conducted a new joint patrol along Syria’s southern border strip with Turkey. The patrol was coupled with Russian helicopters scaling the region’s skies.

This patrol came 48 hours after a similar patrol was conducted in the countryside of Kobani, with two Russian helicopters flying over.

Coalition forces and US soldiers, with the participation of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), conducted a regular patrol in the Qarachokh oil-rich area in the countryside of Al-Malikiyah.

The patrol consisted of five combat vehicles, three Bradley tanks and 2 armored vehicles.

The soldiers were keen to stand with the residents of the area, salute and exchange conversations with the help of translators. This patrol came three days after conducting a similar patrol in the southern countryside of al-Darbasiyah.



Syrian Wildfires Spread Due to Heavy Winds and War Remnants

 A Turkish helicopter drops water on the flames as it helps fight a wildfire near the town of Rabia, in Syria's Latakia countryside, early Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP)
A Turkish helicopter drops water on the flames as it helps fight a wildfire near the town of Rabia, in Syria's Latakia countryside, early Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP)
TT
20

Syrian Wildfires Spread Due to Heavy Winds and War Remnants

 A Turkish helicopter drops water on the flames as it helps fight a wildfire near the town of Rabia, in Syria's Latakia countryside, early Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP)
A Turkish helicopter drops water on the flames as it helps fight a wildfire near the town of Rabia, in Syria's Latakia countryside, early Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP)

Syrian firefighters are facing heavy winds, high temperatures and ordnance left behind from the 13-year civil war as they try to extinguish some of country's worst wildfires in years, a government minister said Monday.

The fires, which started last week, have proven difficult to bring under control despite reinforcements from Jordan, Türkiye and Lebanon that came to the war-torn country to help Syrian teams fight the blaze.

Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said their main challenges are two locations in the coastal province of Latakia that they have been trying to control for two days.

“We have controlled other locations,” al-Saleh told The Associated Press at the scene.

On the second day of the fire, firefighters managed to get 90% of the wildfires under control but explosions of left-over war ordnance and heavy winds helped spread the fires again, al-Saleh said. He added that 120 teams are fighting the blazes.

On Monday, the Lebanese army said it sent two helicopters to help fight the fires in coordination with Syrian authorities.

Over the weekend, UN teams deployed to the Syrian coast where they are conducting urgent assessments to determine the scale of the damage and to identify the most immediate humanitarian needs.

Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions that then lead to blazes.

Also, below-average rainfall over the winter left Syrians struggling with water shortages this summer, as the springs and rivers that normally supply much of the population with drinking water have gone dry.