Jordanian Army Downs Drone from Syria Carrying Meth

A picture released by the Jordanian Armed Forces website shows what it said is a drone carrying drugs from Syria that the Jordanian army intercepted and downed on Jordan's side of the border, Jordan July 24, 2023. JORDAN ARMED FORCES/Handout via REUTERS
A picture released by the Jordanian Armed Forces website shows what it said is a drone carrying drugs from Syria that the Jordanian army intercepted and downed on Jordan's side of the border, Jordan July 24, 2023. JORDAN ARMED FORCES/Handout via REUTERS
TT

Jordanian Army Downs Drone from Syria Carrying Meth

A picture released by the Jordanian Armed Forces website shows what it said is a drone carrying drugs from Syria that the Jordanian army intercepted and downed on Jordan's side of the border, Jordan July 24, 2023. JORDAN ARMED FORCES/Handout via REUTERS
A picture released by the Jordanian Armed Forces website shows what it said is a drone carrying drugs from Syria that the Jordanian army intercepted and downed on Jordan's side of the border, Jordan July 24, 2023. JORDAN ARMED FORCES/Handout via REUTERS

The Jordanian military on Sunday downed a drone carrying crystal meth that was flying into Jordanian territory from neighboring Syria, the state news agency Petra reported.
War-torn Syria has become a hub for a multi-billion-dollar drugs trade, with Jordan a main transit route for a Syrian-made amphetamine known as captagon, Western anti-narcotics officials and Washington say.
Citing a source within the Jordanian armed forces, the state agency said in a statement the drone was "taken control of and downed", Reuters reported.
The Jordanian military has previously downed drones from Syria carrying narcotics or weapons but has rarely identified seized drugs as crystal meth.
Military and security officials from Jordan and Syria have met to discuss ways to curb the growing smuggling problem. Despite pledges by Damascus, Jordan says it has not seen any real attempt to clamp down on the illicit trade.
There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities. In an interview last week, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied Syria's role in the drug trade, saying that ending narcotics smuggling was a common interest that Syria shares with Arab countries.



Libyan National Gathering of Political Parties Seeks to End HCS Division

The National Gathering of Libyan Parties in a previous meeting with Takala (the media office of the group)
The National Gathering of Libyan Parties in a previous meeting with Takala (the media office of the group)
TT

Libyan National Gathering of Political Parties Seeks to End HCS Division

The National Gathering of Libyan Parties in a previous meeting with Takala (the media office of the group)
The National Gathering of Libyan Parties in a previous meeting with Takala (the media office of the group)

The Libyan National Gathering of Political Parties has launched an initiative to resolve the leadership dispute within the High Council of State (HCS) between Khaled Al-Mishri and Mohamed Takala.

The leadership conflict began on August 6, when Al-Mishri was declared the winner over Takala by a single vote. A contested ballot, with Takala’s name written on the reverse side, led to the HCS’s legal committee eventually ruling in favor of Al-Mishri, who then took control of the council’s headquarters in Tripoli and its official Facebook page.

The National Gathering’s initiative aims to unify the HCS and address the ongoing leadership dispute. They have communicated the details to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and all HCS members, receiving positive feedback from various parties. Al-Mishri has responded positively, engaging in a constructive meeting focused on unifying and stabilizing the council.

However, the National Gathering expressed surprise at Takala’s lack of response to the initiative as of Thursday evening, noting his engagement in meetings with individuals claiming to be candidates for the upcoming parliament.

The ongoing leadership struggle between Al-Mishri and Takala has raised concerns about deepening divisions within the HCS, potentially hindering its role in guiding Libya toward stability.

The National Gathering emphasized the urgency of focusing on critical issues affecting the council’s unity and the nation’s stability, urging all parties, including Takala, to engage positively with the proposed initiatives in the national interest.

Al-Mishri has accused Takala of unlawfully claiming the HCS presidency, following a previous court ruling that invalidated the election session. This situation has led to questions about the council’s future and the possibility of further divisions if a resolution is not reached.