Jordanian fighter jets struck what they described as “factories and laboratories” for narcotics in southern Syria on Sunday, highlighting the emergence of Suwayda province as a key hub for the production of Captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine. The strikes targeted sites associated with the “National Guard”, a militia loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, an influential figure within Syria’s Druze minority.
While the multibillion-dollar Captagon industry was once synonymous with forces linked to the government of former President Bashar al-Assad, recent investigations and military operations, dubbed “Operation Jordanian Deterrence”, show the trade has found a new haven in the restive southern province. The developments point to an emerging axis between the new Syrian government and Jordan to dismantle the burgeoning drug infrastructure in Suwayda, which borders Jordan.
According to a report by investigative outlet Forbidden Stories, the situation has allowed Suwayda to become a “hotspot” for the Captagon trade, with elements linked to the National Guard accused of establishing drug manufacturing labs and warehouses within the province and operating smuggling rings beyond Syria’s borders. Clashes between the Syrian military and Druze militias, backed by Israel, in 2025 had further entrenched Suwayda’s isolation from the Syrian state.
For Jordan, the emergence of Suwayda as a Captagon manufacturing hub has become a national emergency. Colonel Abdullah al-Sarhan, a retired Jordanian pilot, told Al Jazeera Arabic that Sunday’s “preemptive” strikes were a necessary action, as trafficking methods had evolved significantly. “The best defence is a good offence,” he said, noting that labs are often shielded by difficult terrain and criminal groups use drones to deliver contraband over the border.
A Jordanian government source told Al Jazeera that the kingdom will no longer tolerate drug-production facilities on its doorstep but stressed that Sunday’s operation was conducted in full coordination with the new Syrian authorities. The air strikes align with the objectives of Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, whose government is determined to dismantle the National Guard’s autonomy, which it views as a threat to state sovereignty.
Major-General Mamoun Abu Nowar, a retired Jordanian military analyst, told Al Jazeera: “Jordanian national security is inextricably linked to Syrian national security.” He added that the strikes serve as a deterrent not only to drug cartels but also to external actors who might seek to take advantage of the power struggle between Damascus and the Druze factions. “It is a message to those within Suwayda cooperating with Israel and to Israel itself: do not attempt any future projects on our borders.”
The conflict over Suwayda’s drug trade has the potential to draw in broader regional powers. Israeli officials have previously sought to position themselves as protectors of Syria’s Druze community, and in March 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to advance the Israeli military to the outskirts of Damascus under the pretext of protecting religious minorities. However, the United States has signalled its opposition to such escalations, urging diplomatic engagement.
The situation in Suwayda remains highly volatile, with much of the province still outside government control. The Syrian government and Jordan are determined to dismantle the National Guard’s alleged illicit economic lifelines, while criminal elements have little incentive to give up this lucrative trade without a fight. The battle for control of Suwayda is now a crucial test for the stability of post-Assad Syria with broader implications beyond its borders.
Source: www.aljazeera.com