HIBAPRESS
Morocco has enhanced its readiness to confront forest fires by organizing a large-scale national exercise called FOREX’26, within the framework of early preparation for the summer season and the increased risk of fires.
This exercise was carried out on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in the forest systems of the Dar Chaoui community, belonging to the prefecture of Tangier-Assilah, within the framework of activating the strategic guidelines of the master plan for the integrated management of forest fires. The exercise aims to test the effectiveness of the national intervention system, and raise the level of coordination between various relevant sectors, through simulating realistic forest fire scenarios, and evaluating operational readiness under conditions that simulate reality. More than 200 cadres and professionals representing various intervening institutions participated in this exercise, including the Ministry of Interior, the Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the Royal Air Force, Civil Protection, Auxiliary Forces, in addition to the National Agency for Water and Forests. Significant land and air capabilities were also harnessed, most notably “Canadair” aircraft and “Turbo Thrush” aircraft, within the framework of enhancing rapid and effective intervention capabilities to reduce the spread of fires and control them in a short time. The exercise focused on testing early warning systems, evaluating the speed of information exchange between interveners, in addition to measuring the effectiveness of unified command in managing field crises. It also constituted an opportunity to draw important practical lessons that would develop methods of prevention and intervention, and enhance the effectiveness of the national system in facing the challenges associated with climate change and the increasing pressure on the forest cover. This exercise confirms the commitment of various partners to adopting an integrated and proactive approach, which aims to protect the forest wealth, ensure the safety of the population, and enhance environmental security in the Kingdom.
