Amman, Dec 25 (NationPress) - In a decisive move, Jordan executed a series of airstrikes in the southern region of Syria's Sweida province, aimed at dismantling suspected drug trafficking networks and storage locations near the border, according to reports from Syrian media and human rights monitors.

State-run Ikhbariya TV reported that the strikes, which occurred late Wednesday (local time), targeted drug storage facilities and a weapons site utilized by armed smuggling groups. Additionally, a former Syrian army outpost, which had been converted for narcotics storage, was also destroyed, as per information from the Xinhua news agency.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, noted multiple airstrikes in border regions and reported heightened aircraft activity.

The Jordanian Armed Forces issued a statement confirming that they have "neutralized several arms and drug traffickers ... along the northern border of Jordan" and have "struck a number of factories and workshops used by these groups as safe havens" for smuggling operations into Jordan, although the specific locations were not disclosed.

In recent years, Jordan has escalated military actions along its northern border, with many operations involving drones, citing increasing threats from drug and weapon trafficking networks.

In the wake of Syria's political transition, Jordan continues to face security threats along its northern border, with experts indicating ongoing concerns related to smuggling activities and regional instability.

Military and strategic analyst Nidal Abu Zeid highlighted in an interview with Xinhua that, despite improvements, security challenges persist along Jordan's northern perimeter.

"The geographical characteristics of the border between Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, which spans across rugged and sparsely populated areas, pose a continual challenge for effective control," Abu Zeid remarked.

He pointed out that smuggling operations have increasingly become more isolated and less coordinated.

Public law professor and political analyst Muath Abu Dalou emphasized that Jordan is closely monitoring developments in southern Syria, stating, "The ongoing activities of smugglers and armed factions necessitate that Jordan maintains a heightened state of alert."

Numerous Jordanian analysts have associated long-term border security directly with the stability and unity of Syria, given that Jordan shares a border stretching approximately 375 km with Syria.

Syria underwent a political transition in December 2024, following the collapse of the previous government after years of conflict. Over the past year, the nation has experienced a gradual reopening of public institutions, a partial restoration of services in major urban centers, and diplomatic engagement with both regional and international stakeholders.

However, vast portions of the country continue to grapple with reconstruction challenges, particularly in areas severely affected during the conflict, while security incidents remain prevalent along the border regions.