After years-long drought where Syria, Iraq were running out of water, dams are now full - analysis

After years of severe drought that depleted groundwater and dried up vital water sources, Syria and Iraq are now grappling with significant flooding. Dams across the region, from Turkey to Syria and Iraq, are full, leading to overflowing rivers and lakes. This dramatic shift from scarcity to excess has caused bridges over the Euphrates to be taken out of service in Syria.

The Syrian Ministry of Energy announced that collaborative efforts with Turkey are underway to reduce the amount of water flowing into Syria via the Euphrates River. This initiative aims to address the high water levels in the provinces of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. Technical teams at the Euphrates Dam General Corporation have begun reducing water flow by 100 cubic meters per second through the partial closure of a spillway gate.

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the efforts made by the Syrian side with the Turkish one resulted in the start of reducing the quantities of water coming into Syrian territory via the Euphrates river, addressing the high levels of the river’s water in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor provinces

Syrian state media reported that this gradual reduction in water flow will continue as inflows from the Turkish side decrease, contributing to a normalization of water levels. However, the rising river levels have already caused damage to approximately 2,400 families in Deir Ezzor. Emergency teams, civil defense, and local authorities are on high alert, implementing preventive measures and conducting evacuations when necessary to protect residents and property.

This transition from a decade-long drought, which saw groundwater levels in eastern Syria decrease by up to sixty percent and pushed millions to the brink, to widespread flooding underscores the region's precarious water situation. The situation demonstrates that the region is not on a fixed trajectory toward perpetual drought, but rather faces unpredictable and extreme shifts in water availability.

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the Ministry stated that the gradual reduction of water passes will continue in the coming days, in parallel with the decline in inflows coming from the Turkish side, which will contribute to a gradual decline in water levels and the return of the situation to normal.