Israeli Sentenced to 4 Months in Jail for Illegally Crossing into Jordan

A Jordanian court sentenced an Israeli man to four months in prison for illegally crossing into the country. (Petra news agency)
A Jordanian court sentenced an Israeli man to four months in prison for illegally crossing into the country. (Petra news agency)
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Israeli Sentenced to 4 Months in Jail for Illegally Crossing into Jordan

A Jordanian court sentenced an Israeli man to four months in prison for illegally crossing into the country. (Petra news agency)
A Jordanian court sentenced an Israeli man to four months in prison for illegally crossing into the country. (Petra news agency)

A Jordanian court sentenced an Israeli man on Monday to four months in prison and fined him $1,450 for illegally crossing into the country and possessing drugs, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Konstantin Kotov, 35, crossed into Jordanian territory on Oct. 29. He pleaded guilty to crossing the border into Jordan illegally but pleaded not guilty to the drug possession charge, saying it was meant for personal use.

The Jordanian state security judge rejected Kotov's argument, saying he had violated Jordanian law.

Kotov did not say why he traveled to Jordan and wrongly claimed that having a small amount of marijuana was legal in Israel.

Israeli law does not allow any possession of marijuana, though amounts smaller than 15 grams are considered to be for personal use and carry a lesser charge.



US Military Says It Strikes Iran-Backed Militia Facility in Syria

A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)
A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)
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US Military Says It Strikes Iran-Backed Militia Facility in Syria

A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)
A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)

US forces conducted strikes in Syria against Iranian-aligned militia groups for a second day in a row Tuesday in response to further attacks on US personnel, US Central Command said late Tuesday.

In the latest retaliatory strikes, US forces hit a weapons storage and logistics facility after militia groups launched a rocket attack on US personnel at Patrol Base Shaddadi in Eastern Syria.

Earlier Tuesday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that over the weekend the militias had also targeted US personnel with a drone attack and indirect fires at another base, Green Village, where US troops are operating — which prompted the US to strike nine militia targets on Monday in self-defense.

There are about 900 US troops deployed in Syria. No US troops were injured in either attack.