Mamoun Naji Interview (Arabic version)
by Radio Albalad
Length 3:36
The Syrian-Jordanian border has been under constant tension for decades, and it has become a threat to Jordan's national security in terms of arms and drug smuggling, chaos, and terrorism.
This constant tension led to the death of Capt. Muhammad al-Khudayrat, a Jordanian army officer, and three others were injured after confronting a group of smugglers who tried to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics and opened fire at the northern border of Jordan with Syria. Prior to that, the incident at the Rukban refugee camp resulted in six soldiers being killed and 14 wounded when an explosives-laden truck was detonated at an army post near the Syrian refugee camp al-Rukban.
There are apparently conflicting forces and militias on the Jordanian border that may be affiliated with Syria's accomplices and planners, as the volume of their trade exceeds 4 billion, according to expert estimates. This brings us to the fact that various explosions at the Jordanian and Syrian borders indicate an imminent threat to Jordan's security.
The history of the Syrian-Jordanian relationship is "accusatory" and always in doubt. Despite this, Jordan's policy has remained consistent with Syria, as it has not changed its efforts to maintain its territorial integrity and stability, especially regarding its internal situation.
Jordan is currently engaged in a campaign to reduce "the sanctions of the Caesar Act" and restore Syria to the Arab League while opening borders. In return, there is a reduction in the flow of water from Syria to Jordan by cutting water from the Yarmouk River by building dams and basins on that river. Damascus is aware of the need for water in Jordan, in addition to hosting 1 million and 300,000 Syrian refugees.
What happens at the borders resembles a war against Jordan, necessitating recourse to the Security Council and the use of international laws and courts. The situation is not significantly different from that regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Countries have almost launched a war against one another, as seen recently between France and Britain over a water boundary dispute, despite both being NATO members. They view transgressions or encroachments on borders as a violation of national security and the rights of their citizens.
The Jordanian state and the relevant authorities should not remain silent. They must seek clarification and official inquiries from Syria regarding the situation at their borders. Hostile practices are Syria's responsibility; Syria must control its borders. If the situation continues, the Jordanian borders must be declared a "closed and prohibited military zone" until the border control process is completed, requiring coordination between the two countries.
Although total security at borders is globally unattainable, Jordan does not have security gaps. Their borders are well-equipped with various electronic sensors and professional border guards. They have the ability to deter detection by air and land in cooperation with regional partners and allies.
Jordan must cooperate with regional partners and allies by changing the rules of engagement, as this is necessary to deter and prevent threats. Additionally, future measures for closed military zones may be required if necessary, given that what is happening at the Jordanian borders can be described as a state of self-defense, as the targets they are dealing with are legitimate targets for military action.
Additional Resources
See the article by Arab News and the interview by Radio Albalad.
by Hamzeh Abu Nowar