PARIS, Nov 8, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - The "extreme" drought gripping Iraq, Syria and Iran would not have occurred without climate change caused primarily by the burning of oil, gas and coal, scientists warned Wednesday.

High temperatures due to human-caused climate change made the drought "much more likely to happen" -- about 25 times more likely in Syria and Iraq and 16 times more likely in Iran, according to the World Weather Attribution group.