Middle East Conflict Deepens as Jordan Launches Cross-Border Attack on Syria

Jordan: West Asia is still going through a very delicate phase. The direct war between Iran and America has stopped after the April 7 ceasefire, but sporadic clashes between Lebanon and Israel are not showing any signs of stopping. In this heavy atmosphere, Jordan took a step which caught the attention of the entire area.

Why did Jordan attack Syria at midnight?

On the night of 2 May, Jordanian fighter planes and helicopters entered Syrian territory. The Jordanian military named it "Jordan Deterrence Operation" and said that several arms and drug smuggling bases along the northern border were targeted. This attack was not done out of anger but after careful consideration.

At which places did the bombs fall, and how much damage was caused?

Syrian state TV said the attacks took place in the southern Suwayda province, which is largely outside Damascus' control. In Shahba village, a hideout that was filled with weapons and drug paraphernalia was destroyed. In total at least five sites were attacked, including warehouses in the town of Arman. 

The ground reality was even more bitter. A local resident living near the border told AFP that the bombing was "extremely intense and directly targeted farms and smuggling routes." The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that both jets and helicopters were involved in the operation. 

Then why was there a need for such a major operation now?

Security experts say smugglers are now using advanced weapons like RPGs, mines and drones, convincing Jordanian officials that it is no longer just smuggling but a national security threat. The Jordanian newspaper Al-Ghad wrote that "Northern Jordan is threatened by drug and arms traffickers as well as separatist projects that are trying to create a mini-state within Syria." 

Suwayda province has another problem of its own the government of Damascus does not operate there. Israel has demanded the demilitarization of southern Syria, preventing the Syrian army from deploying much in the area, and that void became an opportunity for smugglers. When there is no responsible government to talk to at the border, then air strikes are the only answer.