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Jordan and Russia coordinate to stabalize southern Syria

Jordan and Russia coordinate to stabalize southern Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Amman, Jordan November 3, 2022. (Credit: Alaa Al Sukhn/ Reuters)

AMMAN — Jordan and Russia have agreed to step up coordination in tackling instability in southern Syria, which Amman blames on Iran-linked militias and multi-billion dollar drug smuggling across its border, Jordan's foreign minister said on Thursday.

Ayman al-Safadi was speaking after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that centered on "neutralizing potential dangers of instability" in south Syria.

"There is a need for coordination and this is the focus of expansive discussions. The danger of drug smuggling to Jordan and across its territory by hostile militias," Safadi said during a news conference.

Russia, whose military intervention helped Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regain most of the country from insurgents during a decade-long civil war, backed a political solution to end the conflict, Lavrov said.

The growing influence of Iranian-backed militias, including Lebanon's Hezbollah group, in southern Syria in recent years has already alarmed both Jordan and Israel.

King Abdullah has expressed fears the Russian war with Ukraine could eventually help Iran fill in the void left by a weaker Russian military presence in Syria, and Amman looks to Moscow to reaffirm its commitment to the region.

Regional intelligence sources said Moscow has stepped up military police patrols along the Syrian side of the border to assure Jordan it will not allow Teheran-backed militias to gain influence along the border area.

Earlier this year, the sharp rise in smuggling attempts forced Jordan to change the rules of engagement along the border, giving its military the authority to use overwhelming force.

"With the continued situation in the south [Syria], the kingdom will do what is needed to preserve its national security," Safadi said.

War-torn Syria has become the region's main production site for a multibillion-dollar drug trade, and Jordan the main transit route to the oil-rich Gulf states, Western anti-narcotics officials and Washington say.

Jordanian officials said they raised concerns with Syrian authorities but have not seen any real attempt to crack down on the illicit trade.

Damascus said it is doing its best to curb smuggling and continues to bust major smuggler rings in the south. It denies complicity by militias tied to its security forces.

Reporting contributed by Suleiman Al-Khalidi.

AMMAN — Jordan and Russia have agreed to step up coordination in tackling instability in southern Syria, which Amman blames on Iran-linked militias and multi-billion dollar drug smuggling across its border, Jordan's foreign minister said on Thursday.Ayman al-Safadi was speaking after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that centered on "neutralizing potential dangers of...