Türkiye has deployed two firefighting aircraft to France to assist efforts to contain devastating wildfires, following an earlier deployment of two aircraft to Spain, Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı confirmed on Monday.

In a statement on X, Yumaklı said the prolonged wave of forest fires across Europe has once again highlighted the scale of the challenge posed by increasingly severe wildfire seasons.

He noted that, following the instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye had initially sent two firefighting planes to Spain and has now responded to France's request for assistance by dispatching two additional aircraft.

"France requested support, and Türkiye did not remain indifferent," Yumaklı said.

The minister emphasized that Türkiye is committed to contributing to international firefighting efforts alongside protecting its own forests.

"Türkiye, with its resources and experience, fulfills its responsibility not only to protect its own forests but also to protect the forests of other countries when needed," he said.

The deployment reflects Türkiye's growing role in international disaster response, particularly in combating large-scale wildfires, where its specialized aerial firefighting fleet has been increasingly called upon to assist countries facing emergency situations.

Several European countries have been battling intense wildfires in recent days amid soaring temperatures and dry weather conditions, prompting requests for international cooperation and aerial firefighting support. (ILKHA)