Turkey sends 3 planes to extinguish Israel wildfires

By Turan Kazak

AKSARAY, Turkey (AA) - Turkey has sent three firefighting planes to Israel to help extinguish wildfires that tore across the country this week, the country’s Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroglu said.

Speaking during a groundbreaking ceremony in Aksaray in central Turkey on Saturday, Eroglu said the aircraft were dispatched upon a request from Israel.

"Forest fires are really troubling," Eroglu said. "Thankfully, we have great firefighting equipments."

The minister said Turkey had sent firefighting teams to help put out fires that had erupted in Israel several years ago.

"Now, hopefully our firefighting planes will also put this fire out as well," he added.

The fires erupted Tuesday across Israel, blazing through arched forests, burning scores of homes and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Ankara for sending specialized aircraft to help put out the wildfires.

Greece, Croatia, Italy, Greek Cypriot administration and Russia have also all offered to send a combined total of 10 planes to help extinguish the blazes.

Four Palestinian firefighting crews have also been deployed in the northern city of Haifa to help extinguish the blazes.