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.

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.

Clashes raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Wednesday after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatened to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority.

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,

Wildfires in northwestern Syria, which have burned vast tracts of forest and farmland and forced evacuations, have been brought under control after 10 days.

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

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,

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.