Jordan's King Calls for Arab Countries to Combat Drug and Arms Trafficking

King Abdullah II of Jordan warned on Thursday, May 17, during an Arab leaders' meeting in Manama, Bahrain, about the sharp increase in drug and arms trafficking to Arab countries. In this meeting, which was also attended by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Jordanian king addressed Arab leaders, stating, "We must confront armed militant groups... especially drug and arms traffickers." His remarks came a day after two knowledgeable Jordanian officials accused the Islamic Republic of planning to smuggle weapons into their country to assist opponents of the Jordanian monarchy in carrying out sabotage actions, as reported by Reuters. The weapons were allegedly smuggled through Iranian-backed proxy forces in Syria to a Muslim Brotherhood cell in Jordan connected to the military wing of Hamas. However, the cache of these weapons was seized when a sabotage cell of Palestinian-Jordanian individuals was arrested in early April. According to the report, Jordanian officials, like their Western counterparts, believe that the arms and drug trafficking operations from southern Syria into the country are conducted by Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed militias. Jordanian sources indicate that most of the clandestine arms flow into the country is directed towards the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank. Nevertheless, some of the weapons, including those seized in April, were intended for use in Jordan by the Muslim Brotherhood affiliated with Hamas militants. The Assad government denies collaborating with militias on illegal activities. The Islamic Republic and Hezbollah also deny involvement in drug and arms trafficking despite substantial evidence. Last year, Jordan stated that it had thwarted many attempts by infiltrators linked to Iranian-backed militias in Syria, who crossed the border with rocket launchers and explosives, although some weapons shipments have crossed the border between the two countries. The "Ready Lion" military exercise began in Jordan with the participation of military forces from 33 countries. Shin Bet reported that Iran's plan to smuggle weapons to the West Bank was thwarted. Iranian-backed militias are under suspicion; Jordan reported that four drug traffickers were killed at the Syrian border. Airstrikes attributed to Jordan in southern Syria left 10 dead. Jordanian airstrikes targeted Iranian-affiliated traffickers inside Syrian territory. The Jordanian army reported that several drug and arms traffickers were killed after entering from the Syrian border.