US-Backed Syrian Opposition Group Arrests 14 Drug Smugglers

A photo published by Maghaweir al-Thowra for a group of detainees who were arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling after crossing the Jordan border, Asharq Al-Awsat
A photo published by Maghaweir al-Thowra for a group of detainees who were arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling after crossing the Jordan border, Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

US-Backed Syrian Opposition Group Arrests 14 Drug Smugglers

A photo published by Maghaweir al-Thowra for a group of detainees who were arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling after crossing the Jordan border, Asharq Al-Awsat
A photo published by Maghaweir al-Thowra for a group of detainees who were arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling after crossing the Jordan border, Asharq Al-Awsat

Maghaweir al-Thowra (NSA), a Syrian opposition group which controls territory near the Syrian-Jordanian border and is backed by the US-led international coalition, announced arresting a 14-member ring that smuggled drugs between Syria and Jordan.

The group released a picture of those detained alongside its official statement.

It was not possible to verify whether the detainees have been charged.

“Investigations are being conducted with the people who were arrested,” said the NSA statement after revealing that the ring was ambushed on its way back from Jordan to Syrian territories.

The ring was arrested after trying to slip into Syrian regime-controlled areas through the NSA-run 55th zone.

Last Thursday, the NSA also published pictures of a resident of As-Suwayda Governorate handcuffed in front of the Al-Tanf court in the Syrian Badia.

“Investigations are ongoing with Jawdat Hamza, who was arrested in a qualitative operation, in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Force in As-Suwayda, within the framework of joint coordination to combat ISIS and drug smuggling gangs and those involved in southern Syria,” said another NSA statement.

“Jawdat Hamza is an agent of Hezbollah in As-Suwayda, and he was handed over to the US-operated Al-Tanf base, after he was arrested by the anti-terrorism force in As-Suwayda, and he will be investigated by the NSA,” added the statement.

Local news networks in As-Suwayda said that Hamza disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the city of As-Suwayda two weeks ago, while working as a taxi driver.

The anti-terrorism force in As-Suwayda announced that he had been detained and handed over to the US base in Al-Tanf region, on charges of working for Hezbollah and securing drug smuggling operations.

Moreover, Hamza was accused of criminal cases, including kidnappings.

Hamza’s family protested handing him over to the base and demanded turning him into the hands of a competent Syrian judiciary.

No statement was issued by US forces or the international coalition concerning Hamza.



Israeli Settlers Briefly Crossed into Lebanon, the Military Says

UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
TT

Israeli Settlers Briefly Crossed into Lebanon, the Military Says

UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)
UN "blue line" notifications are pictured near the Lebanese-Israeli border as seen from the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Lebanon October 14, 2022. (Reuters)

A group of Israeli settlers have briefly crossed the border into Lebanon before they were removed by troops, the military acknowledged Wednesday.

The civilians who crossed the border came from the Uri Tzafon movement, a group calling for Israeli settlement of southern Lebanon. Photos posted by the group online Saturday showed a small group of activists holding signs and erecting tents inside Lebanon while Israeli soldiers were present.

After first denying the reports to Israeli media, the military said Wednesday that civilians had crossed the border “by a few meters” and were removed by troops.

The military called the border breach a “serious incident” and said it was investigating.

“Any attempt to approach or cross the border into Lebanese territory without coordination poses a life-threatening risk and interferes with the IDF’s ability to operate in the area and carry out its mission,” the military said, using the acronym for the Israel Defense Forces.

The settler group Uri Tzafon, which means “Awaken the North” in Hebrew, crossed the border in the area of the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras. In the past, the movement has said the area is home to an old Hebrew settlement.

Groups of settler activists also have breached the Gaza border more than once since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, at one point erecting small wooden tents before they were evacuated by troops. Daniela Weiss, the leader of the movement to resettle Gaza, claims she has entered Gaza twice since the start of the war.

Israel’s settler movement has been emboldened by its current government -- the furthest-right in Israeli history -- and is now seeking to expand to parts of southern Lebanon and the north of the Gaza.