Occupied Quds – SABA:
The Zionist newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday evening that more than 100 firefighting units, supported by aircraft, have failed to extinguish the fires that broke out in several areas today, particularly the massive blaze in the forests west of Quds.
According to the newspaper, 163 firefighting crews are attempting to control the largest fire stretching from western Jerusalem to the outskirts of Tel Aviv. The flames have consumed thousands of dunums of forest, and firefighting teams have so far been unable to extinguish them.
The main highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem has remained closed for ten hours, as the fire is concentrated along the road, considered a vital artery linking the Gush Dan area to Quds.
Twelve firefighters have been injured during efforts to put out the blaze. The fire has been exacerbated by hot, dry, and fast Khamsin winds, causing it to spread to multiple areas, with additional fires reported in the south and near Lod.
Meanwhile, the Zionist Shin Bet (Shabak) security service has announced an investigation into the fire outbreak, amid suspicions that the blazes may have been deliberately set.
Firefighting authorities have confirmed the presence of nine separate fire zones, all located between western Jerusalem and the coastal plain, specifically in areas including Beit Meir, Shoresh, Sha’ar HaGai, Neve Ilan, Mesilat Zion, Neve Shalom, and Park Canada.
Large firefighting aircraft of the "Shimson" type are expected to join the efforts tomorrow morning, along with massive "Super Tanker" planes from European countries, similar to those that helped extinguish the massive Carmel forest fire 15 years ago.
Channel 7 reported that several areas near the fires have been evacuated over fears that the flames will reach residential zones west of Quds.
Fires have also consumed several vehicles traveling on Route 1, while firefighting sources expressed fears of a tragedy similar to the one in the Carmel Mountains, where dozens of prison service personnel died after being trapped in a bus by the flames.
The fire also reached the enemy army's armored corps museum in the Latrun area west of Quds, with tanks seen surrounded by fire on all sides. The majority of the museum's contents have been destroyed.