Jordan responds to Syria’s inaction attacking drug warehouse
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – On Monday at dawn, Jordanian flights targeteda building used for storing drugs in the vicinity of the village of Kharab al-Shahem in the western countryside of Daraa, south Syria, as the same flight targeted a house in Suwayda countryside.
Local sources told North Press that drug smugglers used the building, which used to be a filtration plant, for storing drugs before transforming them into Jordan.
The sources added, “The warehouse is run by individuals operating within the ranks of the 4th Armored Division of the government forces and others with links to the Lebanese Hezbollah.”
Additionally, the same flights launched an airstrike on the house of Merae Ramthan, 45, in the village of al-Sheab in the eastern countryside of Suwayda, a governorate south Syria.
As a result, eight individuals, including six children, from one family were killed, according to circulated news.
Local sources told North Press, “Ramthan, his wife Hend, and his children Hamza, Abbas, Asil, Yamama, Malak, and Lamis were killed in the Jordanian airstrike.”
The local sources added that the targeted person “Ramthan” worked in drug trading in the region.
Though there are a number of search warrants have filled against Ramthan, he was released from detention a day after being arrested by members of the government Security Branch in January.
On May 5, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi threatens with a military operation inside Syria in case “effective measures” to curb drug smuggling were not taken by the latter.
In an interview with the American news channel CNN, Safadi said, “We are not taking the threat of drug smuggling lightly.”
The Jordanian army periodically announces the seizure of quantities of captagon pills and other drugs coming from Syria.
Several international reports, headed by the US Treasury, accuse the Syrian government and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia of running large drug trafficking networks in this border area, as well as other Syrian regions.