Ahmad 
Jordanian border guards have launched fierce clashes with drug and weapons smuggling groups who infiltrated its northern border with Syria, Jordan’s official Petra news agency reported on Saturday.
Al-Mamlaka TV quoted a source in the Jordanian army as saying that “the clashes resulted in the injury and seizure of a number of smugglers and thwarted the smuggling of large quantities of drugs and weapons.”
The military source explained that the armed groups are being expelled into Syria, noting that the operations have evolved from simple infiltration attempts to armed clashes, while stressing the continued tracking of the movements of the groups and confronting them to ensure national safety.
In a related context, the Jordanian Air Force carried out two raids inside Syrian territory, according to a Jordanian informed source, as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The source pointed out that these raids only target individuals involved in the drug trade, stressing Jordan’s readiness to take any measures to protect its interests and population.
The border area between Jordan and Syria is witnessing an uptick in drug smuggling attempts, with operations considered “organized” and sometimes including the use of drones and the protection of armed groups.