Joint Syrian-Jordanian statement on latest operation in southern Syria

The Syrian and Jordanian foreign ministries announced in a joint press statement late Tuesday night into Wednesday that they had agreed to form a joint security committee to examine the details and circumstances of Jordan’s recent military operations in the countryside of Daraa, southern Syria, follow up on their repercussions, and develop field and intelligence coordination mechanisms between the two countries.

The statement followed a phone call between Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi and Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. They discussed the repercussions of the shelling carried out by the Jordanian Armed Forces on Monday, which targeted sites Amman said belonged to ISIS.

According to the statement, Safadi explained that the operations were based on field intelligence and aimed to neutralise confirmed threats and imminent terrorist operations targeting Jordan’s security.

Safadi expressed regret over the civilian casualties resulting from the operations, offered his condolences to the Syrian people, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He stressed that Jordan was as concerned about the safety of Syrian citizens as it was about the safety of its own citizens.

Safadi reaffirmed Jordan’s respect for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability, stressing that Syria’s security and stability are an integral part of Jordan’s security.

The two ministers emphasised the depth of the historic relations between the two countries and their peoples, as well as their commitment to strengthening and developing cooperation across various fields and resolving differences through frank, responsible and fraternal dialogue.

They also stressed the importance of continued cooperation to address shared security challenges, foremost among them combating terrorism and drug and weapons smuggling across the border, through effective and sustainable institutional channels.

The statement explained that the formation of the joint security committee was intended to strengthen direct field and security coordination, verify the details of the recent operations and follow up on their repercussions, and develop intelligence coordination mechanisms to address security threats, in a manner that ensures the protection of civilians and safeguards Syrian sovereignty.

The agreement follows Jordanian shelling that targeted sites in the countryside of Daraa on Monday, triggering repercussions for security relations between the two countries amid civilian casualties and Damascus’s insistence on the need to respect its sovereignty and coordinate in advance regarding operations inside its territory.

Sh-S

ANHA