Ongoing fires in Hoor al-Azim threaten the lives of Ahwazi residents for over seven months

For more than seven months, fires have continued to rage in the Iraqi section of Hoor al-Azim, causing thick smoke to spread across vast areas of western Ahwaz. This has led to severe air quality deterioration and an increase in cases of suffocation among the population.

Local officials stated that the phenomenon is caused by drought and the declining water levels in the marsh, while the Iraqi authorities have taken no real action to extinguish the fires, merely waiting for rainfall.

Despite the worsening environmental crisis that threatens the lives of thousands of citizens, Iranian authorities continue to deliberately ignore the serious ecological situation in Ahwaz.

They have taken no meaningful steps to address air pollution or to support international efforts to extinguish the fires, sparking widespread frustration among residents who face the effects of smoke and suffocation daily.

The military governor of Ahwaz confirmed that two firefighting aircraft were sent to the Iraqi side in an attempt to control the flames, but these efforts were limited and yielded no tangible results.

Hoor al-Azim is one of the largest and most significant wetlands in the region and is listed under the Ramsar Convention as a globally recognized ecological site. However, Iran’s policies of environmental neglect have worsened the drought and fires, turning this vital ecosystem into a constant threat to the health and lives of Ahwazi residents.