Jordan Destroys 'Camouflaged' Vehicles Crossing from Syria

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Jordanian warplanes destroyed "camouflaged" vehicles on Wednesday as they tried to cross into the kingdom from war-ravaged Syria, in the first such strikes since the conflict erupted three years ago.

A Syrian military source, cited by state television in Damascus, said the vehicles struck did not belong to Syria's armed forces, while Amman said an initial probe showed they were being used by arms dealers.

Damascus has accused Amman of backing the uprising against President Bashar Assad by training and arming rebels, a charge denied by Jordan, which says it has tightened border controls and jailed dozens trying to cross illegally.

Wednesday's air strikes were the first time Jordan has used fighter jets against such infiltrations.

"Royal air force jets fighters today at 10:30 am (0730 GMT) destroyed a number of vehicles that attempted to cross into Jordan from Syria," the Jordanian army said.

"The camouflaged vehicles tried to enter from an area with rugged terrain," it said in a statement.

"The fighter jets fired warning shots, but they were ignored, prompting them to destroy the vehicles. The army will not tolerate such actions."

A military official told AFP in Amman that "Three wheeled vehicles tried to enter the kingdom" near Ruwaished in northern Jordan.

In Damascus, a military source said the vehicles did not belong to the Syrian army.

"No military or armored vehicles belonging to the Syrian army moved towards the Jordanian border, and so what was targeted by the Jordanian air force does not belong to the Syrian army," it said.

Jordanian Information Minister Mohammad Momani said the vehicles apparently belonged to arms traders.

"Initial probe shows that those who were inside the vehicles were infiltrators who tried to smuggle weapons and other things," Momani, who is also government spokesman, told AFP.

"They were all killed," he said without specifying their number.

Amman says arms smuggling across the border with Syria has risen by 300 percent in the past year.

"They were arms smugglers, who also seek to smuggle drugs sometimes," a military official said.

Jordan says it has foiled hundreds of trafficking attempts, while the military state security court is examining several related cases.

Border guards have in past clashed with and arrested several people as they tried to cross from Syria into the kingdom.

"By using the air force, Jordan wants to send a message to terrorists and groups that seek to exploit the Syrian situation that it will respond in a very tough way against any threat to national security,” said analyst Oraib Rantawi, head of Amman's Al-Quds Center for Political Studies.

"Jordan also wants to ... respond to accusations that Amman is involved in facilitating the entry of jihadists into Syria who are considered a threat to the kingdom itself."

The country has struggled to cope with hosting more than 500,000 Syrian refugees uprooted by the conflict.

It has repeatedly expressed fears that the bloodshed could spread and concern over the regional impact of anti-Assad jihadist fighters.

The United States also fears a possible spillover of violence to Syria's southern neighbor Jordan, a key U.S. ally and one of only two Arab states to have signed a peace treaty with Israel.

King Abdullah II has vowed to protect Jordan from the Syrian war, while the United States kept F-16 fighters and Patriot missile interceptors in the kingdom after joint military exercises last year.

More than 150,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict broke out in March 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor.

Comments 16
Default-user-icon Rambo (Guest) 16 April 2014, 14:49

Good. Apparently this regime thinks it can do as it pleases. Their cockiness (and Hezbollah's) will be their demise.

Thumb EagleDawn 16 April 2014, 15:13

A country and armed forces that have the respect of their people.

Thumb zahle1 16 April 2014, 15:34

We should do this, however it would have to be for both sides. I am not sure HA is ready to negotiate on this, and not sure this country and the LAF is ready to take on HA.

Thumb Mystic 16 April 2014, 16:12

So you want the LAF to take on The Resistance (their allies) and risk a civil war? Childish thinking zahle1

Thumb Mystic 16 April 2014, 20:29

I would like you to notice something, besides your western propaganda, that all security in Lebanon is in cooperation between the Resistance and LAF. Another thing is, a dozen of my family are in the LAF. So you can wish for whatever you want, that aint going to change the facts on the ground.

Missing VINCENT 16 April 2014, 22:55

Resistance against who? What resistance? H.A. could very well redefine the term, its goals, etc. as necessary. I have no problems with that. Just say it. The only real resistance we've seen by H.A. has been against he Sunni Extremists fighting in Syria.

Default-user-icon Hanoun (Guest) 16 April 2014, 15:53

absolutely all alien aircrafts should be shot down
but I wonder why all powers refuse to give the army sophisticated antiaircraft missile with long range ???

Thumb Mystic 16 April 2014, 16:03

They didn't even hit the SAA. They hit their own takfiris, good riddance Jordan kill your own terrorists.

Thumb EagleDawn 16 April 2014, 16:08

That is what is wrong with people like you. It does not who is attempting to violate the Country's sovereignty, The armed forces should automatically respond. In Lebanon and according to sectarians like you Sovereignty is sect specific, party specific, and country specific. That is why we are where we are today.

Thumb popeye 16 April 2014, 16:19

well said eagle!

Thumb cedre 16 April 2014, 18:20

good one eagle...

Missing helicopter 17 April 2014, 06:32

abass,
You must be one proud Alawite. Lucky Bachar to have loyal folks like you.

Thumb Mystic 16 April 2014, 20:07

Self rightous American. You are the ones creating wars all over the world. When people resist you, you just whine about it. Your power is over,a new time is at hand.

Thumb Mystic 16 April 2014, 20:23

With your sanctions? Not likely ever going to be a settlement ever. We both know that american

Missing beirutbastard00 17 April 2014, 02:20

Anonymetex, there are no arguments for what happened/is happening to the Palestinians.

Assad needs to go, along with ALL the Arab leaders. No exceptions. As a block we are the strongest in the world, shame we still follow kings and pharaohs.

Missing helicopter 17 April 2014, 06:33

If HA is supposed to be Lebanese how come you never see them with Lebanese flags?