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Jordan Thwarts Drug Smuggling Bid Coming from Syria

Two members of the Jordanian Armed Forces during an operation to monitor smuggling networks across the border with Syria (Archive - AFP)
Two members of the Jordanian Armed Forces during an operation to monitor smuggling networks across the border with Syria (Archive - AFP)
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Jordan Thwarts Drug Smuggling Bid Coming from Syria

Two members of the Jordanian Armed Forces during an operation to monitor smuggling networks across the border with Syria (Archive - AFP)
Two members of the Jordanian Armed Forces during an operation to monitor smuggling networks across the border with Syria (Archive - AFP)

The Jordanian Armed Forces foiled on Saturday an attempt to smuggle large quantities of drugs into Jordanian territory coming from Syria, said a military statement, which Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a copy of.

An official military source in the General Command said that Jordan’s border guards, in coordination with the security services, detected, without saying when, an armed group of smugglers illegally crossing the borders from Syrian territory into Jordan.

Quick response patrols were immediately mobilized, opening fire at the smugglers. One of them was injured while the rest of the gang fled back to Syria.

The source said that 564 hashish packages and 20 thousand Captagon pills, a Kalashnikov, and some quantities of ammunition were found during the search.

Jordan’s military forces said their efforts will continue to confront any threat along the country's border and to safeguard the country's security.

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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Blinken Agrees to Bilateral Meeting with Sudan’s Army Chief

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP)
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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Blinken Agrees to Bilateral Meeting with Sudan’s Army Chief

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has agreed to a meeting with Commander of the Sudanese army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, trusted sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The agreement to meet took place during a telephone call between the officials on Monday.

They agreed to hold a bilateral meeting ahead of negotiations in Switzerland on December 15.

The sources said Blinken suggested that the talks be held in Switzerland, while Burhan proposed Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah that had already held negotiations between the army and Rapid Support Forces and led to the Declaration of Principles.

During a briefing on the telephone call, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday that Blinken “reiterated the need for the army to participate in ceasefire talks in Switzerland.”

“The Secretary underscored the need to urgently end the fighting and enable unhindered humanitarian access, including cross border and cross line, to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people,” he added.

In a post on the X platform, Burhan said he discussed with Blinken “the need to address pressing government affairs before starting any negotiations.”

Despite the government’s announcement that it was prepared to take part in the negotiations in Switzerland, it is hoping that they would be preceded by the RSF implementing the Declaration of Principles that was signed in Jeddah in May 2023.

On the Blinken-Burhan meeting, the sources said the government may demand that Washington exert more pressure on the countries that are allegedly supporting the RSF in the ongoing war with the army.

The demands may also include pressing the RSF to agree to a ceasefire and end military operations so that they don’t capture more Sudanese territories, added the sources.

The meeting will also most likely address the “future of the RSF in Sudan’s political scene,” continued the sources.