Syria expressed on Tuesday its “deep regret” over Jordan's launching of air strikes inside its territory, considering them “unjustified.”
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said – in a statement – that the strikes directed by the Jordanian Air Force targeted several villages and areas on Syrian territory, the most recent of which was targeting villages in the countryside. Suwayda Last Thursday, a number of civilians were killed, including children and women, and a number of wounded.
She added, “There is no justification for such military operations, despite the justifications that they are directed at elements involved in cross-border drug smuggling.”
The Foreign Ministry explained that it was “trying to contain these strikes in order not to affect the continued restoration of the brotherly relationship between the two countries,” as it put it.
Last Thursday, Syrian media announced that at least 10 people, including two girls and five women, were killed in Jordanian air strikes on the Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria.
An ongoing Jordanian campaign
The Jordanian army has intensified its campaign against drug smugglers on its border with Syria in the past few weeks.
Jordanian aircraft launched raids several times inside Syrian territory, especially near the border between the two countries, mainly targeting drug smuggling and trade operations, which Amman has repeatedly announced its intention to confront and cooperate with Damascus to confront.
And Arabic Oman Expressing its annoyance at the continuation of arms and drug smuggling operations, which have taken a new and advanced turn in recent days through the use of drones on the lines of smuggling gangs while trying to bring in explosive materials from Syria.
Jordan says that drug smuggling across its border with Syria, which extends about 375 kilometers, is an “organized operation” that uses drones and is protected by armed groups.
During the past years, Jordan has witnessed hundreds of infiltration and smuggling attempts, especially from Syria and…IraqAs a result of the deteriorating security situation in the two neighboring countries.