Jordanian authorities are working to strengthen control of the border with Syria, with the aim of monitoring the movements of drug smuggling gangs backed by Iranian militias deployed in southern Syria.

According to sources in the kingdom, the Jordanian Border Police has in recent days burned weeds and thorns scattered on the opposite side of the border in the Syrian "Yarmouk Valley" area, in order to facilitate the monitoring of smugglers' movements as well as Iranian militias overseeing smuggling operations across the Jordanian border in the same area.

On Friday, Jordan thwarted an attempt to smuggle large quantities of drugs from regime-controlled areas and Iranian militias in Syria. 716,000 Captagon bullets have been seized, making it the fifth operation Jordan has thwarted on its border with Syria since early June.