Syrian, Jordanian military chiefs discuss defense cooperation to counter border security threats

On September 30, Syrian and Jordanian military leaders engaged in a conversation aimed at bolstering defense cooperation between the two nations, according to SANA, Syria's official news agency. The meeting, as reported by the agency, was significant as it sought to stabilize border regions and counter threats from terrorist cells.

The Syrian Defense Minister, Maj.-Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasra, spoke with Jordan's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Maj.-Gen. Majdi al-Harasis, over the phone. The two discussed various matters of mutual interest, focusing on advancing cooperation and coordination between their militaries in defense-related issues. This collaboration comes after Syria defeated an ISIS cell in the Yarmouk basin area near the Jordanian border and the dismantling of a Hezbollah-linked cell in the southern Daraa province.

Both Syria and Jordan have had a close partnership, with Jordan previously backing Syrian rebels against the Assad regime. The Yarmouk basin, where ISIS was once active, has now been secured by the Syrian regime. Jordan and Syria are concerned about threats from militias in Iraq and Iran, and they view the power vacuum in the Suwayda area as a potential security risk.

The talks between the two nations' military chiefs underscore the importance of cooperation to maintain stability along their shared border, particularly in the face of potential threats from external actors seeking to exploit regional instability.