Firefighters work at the site of a wildfire near Jerusalem, on Aug. 16, 2021. Israel is considering calling for international assistance in battling a massive wildfire that has been raging over the past two days near Jerusalem, officials said on Monday. Some 45 firefighting teams and ten aircraft were battling the blazes, according to a statement issued by the Fire and Rescue Services. Israel's state-owned Kan Radio reported that more than 17 square kilometers of forest had already been consumed. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel is considering calling for international assistance in battling a massive wildfire that has been raging over the past two days near Jerusalem, officials said on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said in a statement that the prime minister instructed the Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev and the National Security Council "to consider appealing for international assistance in extinguishing the fires."
Bennett also ordered the army to give "all necessary assistance to the firefighting and rescue efforts," including sending more military aircrafts to assist to contain the fire.
Some 45 firefighting teams and ten aircrafts were battling the blazes, according to a statement issued by the Fire and Rescue Services. Israel's state-owned Kan Radio reported that more than 17 square kilometers of forest had already been consumed.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. It broke out on Sunday amid a combination of hot, dry and windy weather. Enditem
