Army shoots down drone loaded with TNT at Syrian border

AMMAN — Eastern Military Zone personnel on Wednesday shot down a drone loaded with TNT explosives coming from the Syrian territories. 

An official source from the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) said that Border Guard forces, in coordination with the Anti-Narcotics Department and other military apparatuses, spotted an unmanned drone flying illegally across the Syrian border into Jordan.

The Royal Engineering Corps shot down the drone, which fell into Jordanian territory, according to a JAF statement. 

The JAF will continue to “strike with an iron fist" in the case of any national security threat at the border. 

Also on Wednesday morning, Southern Military Zone personnel prevented seven Sri Lankan nationals from completing an illegal border crossing attempt. 

A military source at the JAF said that Border Guard forces acted rapidly and decisively, adhering to well-defined engagement protocols. 

The individuals involved in the infiltration attempt were arrested, and handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation.

Emphasising JAF's unwavering commitment to safeguarding national borders, the source underscored JAF’s vigilance in deterring any unlawful activity, including infiltration or smuggling attempts, stressing that army personnel will remain steadfast in their dedication to preserving Jordan's national security.

The JAF also thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics loaded onto a drone coming from Syria towards the Kingdom on Sunday.

On August 8, the JAF announced that army personnel foiled the attempt of three individuals to illegally cross the border,  which resulted in the death of one infiltrator.

Border Guards applied the rules of engagement, and arrested the three infiltrators, who were Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian nationals. One individual was found to be unconscious.

The unconscious individual received first aid before being transferred to the Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Military Hospital in Karak, where he was pronounced dead. The other two individuals were referred to the relevant authorities.

On August 2, JAF personnel prevented an Israeli individual from crossing into Jordanian territory with no authorisation. The individual was arrested and handed over to the relevant authorities.

Another drone carrying narcotics was shot down by Eastern Military Zone personnel on July 24.

In January, the JAF announced that it had foiled an attempt by a group of non-Jordanian nationals to illegally enter Jordanian territory from an unnamed neighbouring country.

Over the past several years, particularly since the outbreak of the crisis in Syria in 2011, Jordan has faced hundreds of infiltration and smuggling attempts, primarily from Syria and Iraq, as a consequence of the security challenges in these countries.