Syria “regrets” Jordanian airstrikes on country
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates “deeply regretted” on Tuesday the Jordanian airstrikes on Syria, considering them “unjustified,” especially since they caused civilian casualties.
On Jan 18, more than 10 people were killed in airstrikes, believed to have been carried out by Jordan, targeting the southeastern countryside of Suwayda Governorate, southern Syria.
These strikes come as part of Jordan’s escalation against drug smugglers, whom it claims are affiliated with Iran.
The Ministry said in a statement that Syria expresses deep regret following the air strikes directed by the Jordanian Air Force on several villages and areas inside the Syrian territory.
The Ministry emphasized its commitment to containing the situation, ensuring that tensions between the two countries are not escalated.
“Foreign and Defense ministries along with Security officials in Syria sent messages to their Jordanian counterparts, suggesting taking practical and effective steps for controlling the joint borders, and voicing Syria’s readiness to cooperate with the Jordanian Security institutions, but no response was received,” The Ministry’s statement said.
The statement further stated that the recent political, media, and military escalations in Syria contradict the agreements reached by the Syrian-Jordanian committees aimed at collaborating in the fight against smuggling and drugs.
Since 2011, thousands of “terrorists” and huge quantities of weapons have entered Syria “from neighboring countries, including Jordan, which led to the death of thousands of innocent people and caused great suffering to Syrians in various domains, not to mention destruction of infrastructure,” the Ministry concluded.