Syrian and Jordanian armed forces discuss border drug operations in summit.

AMMAN (Reuters) – Army and security chiefs from Jordan and Syria met on Sunday to address the growing drug trade along their mutual border that has resulted in deadly skirmishes. The blame for these incidents has largely been placed on pro-Iranian militias who have influence in southern Syria.

This meeting follows an agreement made in May during a meeting in Amman, where Syria’s neighbors received a pledge from Damascus to cooperate in curbing the drug trade. In exchange, the international community vowed to assist in uplifting Syria’s pariah status, which it had been subjected to as a result of a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters during the civil war.

The talks, led by Jordanian army head Lieutenant General Yousef Hunaiti and Syrian Defence Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas, brought together both countries’ intelligence chiefs to discuss the threat drugs pose to regional stability, according to a statement from the Jordanian foreign ministry.

“The meeting discussed cooperation in confronting the drug danger and its sources of production and smuggling and the parties that organize and execute smuggling operations across the border,” the statement read.

Syria has been accused by Arab governments and Western nations of producing the highly addictive and lucrative amphetamine captagon and smuggling it into the Gulf. Jordan is considered a primary transit route for these illegal activities.

The kingdom is concerned about the increase in lawlessness in the strategic southern region, where pro-Iranian militias allegedly protected by Syrian army units are said to operate the multi-billion dollar drug smuggling networks. The United States, Britain, and the European Union have accused Syria’s government, including Maher al-Assad, the head of the army’s elite Fourth Division and the president’s brother, of being involved in the production and export of drugs.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government vehemently denies any involvement in drug-making, smuggling, or collaboration with Iranian-backed militias linked to its army and security forces. Iran claims that these allegations are part of Western plots against the country.

Jordan, frustrated with the broken promises to address the drug trade, took matters into its own hands in May when it conducted a rare strike on a drugs factory linked to Iran inside Syrian territory. Local and Western intelligence sources confirmed the operation.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, during a visit to Damascus earlier this month, firmly stated that his country would not hesitate to take action against any threats to its national security. He also urged Damascus to respond more forcefully.

In recent weeks, Jordan’s army has intercepted two Iranian-operated drones coming from Syria, with one drone reportedly carrying weapons. This development is a cause for concern for Amman, as it has previously accused Damascus of sending militants to carry out terrorist attacks.

Jordan has requested increased military aid from the United States to strengthen security along the border. Since the start of the decade-long conflict, Washington has provided approximately $1 billion to establish border posts, according to officials.

Jordan shares a border of approximately 375 km (230 miles) with Syria.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Chris Reese)