Jordan’s military conducted airstrikes in southern Syria on Wednesday, targeting locations it stated were used by drug and weapons smugglers operating along the border, according to Jordan’s official state news agency. The strikes took place in the southern and eastern countryside of Syria’s Suwayda governorate, an area identified by regional officials as a transit route for narcotics.
The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported that the operation “neutralised a number of arms and drug traffickers” and destroyed workshops and facilities used by the groups. The report stated the strikes were based on “precise intelligence” and were carried out in coordination with unnamed regional partners.
In a statement conveyed by Petra, the Jordanian military warned it would “continue to counter any threats with force at the appropriate time and place.”
Syrian state broadcaster Al-Ikhbariah TV confirmed on its Telegram channel that Jordanian airstrikes had occurred in the Suwayda region. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, also reported on the raid, stating that jets and helicopters were allegedly involved in the operation.
An unnamed resident in the Suwayda region told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the bombardment “was extremely intense and targeted farms and smuggling routes.”
There were no immediate official reports of casualties resulting from the strikes. Authorities in Damascus have not issued an official comment on the operation. The online news outlet Zaman Al Wasl reported that a farm believed to be used for storing drugs was among the sites targeted.
The strikes occurred in a region known for the trafficking of Captagon, an amphetamine-type stimulant. Prior to the change in government in Syria in December 2024, reports from international bodies and analysts identified large-scale production of the drug within the country.
According to a United Nations report and assessments by policy experts, the trade generated significant revenue. Neighboring countries, including Jordan and Gulf states, have frequently announced seizures of Captagon shipments originating from Syria and have called for increased efforts to combat its cross-border smuggling. Jordanian officials have stated that smuggling attempts across its northern border have increased in recent years.
