Lebanon: Fire Season Begins as Akar Al-Ateeka Ignites

The Minister of Environment in the caretaker government, Nasser Yassine, is monitoring efforts to combat a large fire that broke out yesterday in the forests of Akar Al-Ateeka. Civil defense personnel and teams from the Akar monitoring and forest fire alert group mobilized to the site as soon as information was received. Due to the rough terrain and the fire getting out of control, contact was made with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, who promptly ordered military units in the region to intervene, with air support provided by helicopters. However, after progress was made in extinguishing the fire, it reignited this morning and went out of control again, extending towards nearby homes in the Sen Hill area of Akar Al-Ateeka in northern Lebanon. Efforts to extinguish the fire continue with various civil defense centers and first responders, and coordination is ongoing with the General Secretariat of the Supreme Defense Council and the Disaster Management Unit in the Presidency of the Council of Ministers regarding potential external support if needed.