Forest fire on Mount Azmer near Sulaymaniyah spreads amid strong winds

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — A forest fire broke out on Mount Azmer in the Diwi Sitk area near Sulaymaniyah on Monday, with strong winds helping drive the flames across difficult terrain, officials said. Firefighters were deployed to the scene, but high winds and the steep, mountainous landscape were hampering containment efforts, according to local authorities. No casualties or injuries had been reported as of Monday afternoon. Officials said the cause of the blaze had not yet been determined. No official assessment of the size of the fire or the extent of damage to surrounding areas had been released. Meteorological conditions in the mountainous region around Sulaymaniyah remained unfavorable, with forecasters warning that continued strong winds could push the flames into wider areas. Firefighting teams were still working to bring the fire under control.