Jordanian Airstrike on Drug Traffickers Linked to the Islamic Republic Inside Syrian Territory

The Jordanian Air Force carried out an airstrike early Tuesday local time, marking the third such attack in the past month against drug traffickers affiliated with the Islamic Republic inside Syrian territory. According to Reuters, the Jordanian army has intensified its battle against drug dealers linked to the Islamic Republic following a series of clashes last month with dozens of suspects connected to pro-Islamic Republic militants, who were smuggling large shipments of weapons and explosives across the Jordan-Syria border. Jordan and its Western allies accuse the Islamic Republic-backed 'Hezbollah' and other pro-Iranian militias, which control a significant portion of southern Syria, of drug trafficking. While the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah deny these allegations and claim it is a Western conspiracy against Syria, the Syrian government also rejects any involvement of Iranian-backed militias in drug trafficking, a connection that opposition groups say is established with 'Syrian security forces.' UN experts and American and European officials believe that the 'Captagon drug trafficking network' finances pro-Iranian militants and pro-government militia forces in Syria. Arab governments and Western circles have accused Syria of producing the highly addictive and lucrative drug 'Captagon' and using Jordan as a transit route to send this and other drugs to Gulf countries. The Syrian government has denied any production of such substances. Meanwhile, Jordanian officials note that talks with senior Syrian officials to reduce smuggling activities under the control of the Islamic Republic have stalled due to the Syrian government's inability to establish order in the southern region of the country. Contrary to promises, Bashar al-Assad's government has increased Captagon trafficking in the region. The Jordanian army reported that several drug and arms traffickers were killed following their entry from the Syrian border. The European Union has sanctioned Bashar al-Assad's cousins for 'involvement in drug trafficking.' The United States has also sanctioned Bashar al-Assad's cousins involved in jihadist drug trade.