Official Source: Jordan Denies Israeli Aid Transit to Sweida via Its Territory - Jordan News

Jordan News

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Official Source: Jordan Denies Israeli Aid Transit to Sweida via Its Territory Amman – A senior Jordanian official confirmed to Al Jazeera that 'the Kingdom rejected an Israeli request to allow aid to pass through its territory to Sweida Governorate in southern Syria.' اضافة اعلان The source emphasized that 'any relief operations must be conducted in coordination with the Syrian government and through internationally recognized channels.' The Jordanian statement aligns with a report by the U.S. site Axios, citing American and Israeli officials, which indicated that Amman rejected the Israeli request several days ago, prompting Israeli forces to airdrop the aid directly in the targeted area. Political Context This revelation coincides with a high-level trilateral conference held in Amman, bringing together Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Syrian Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad, and U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrett. The meeting resulted in the formation of a Syrian-Jordanian-U.S. working group to support efforts to stabilize the ceasefire in Sweida and address its current crisis, following an official request from Damascus. The conference emphasized the commitment to Syria's security, stability, and territorial integrity—a step that observers say reflects growing momentum in Jordanian political engagement on the Syrian file, particularly in the south. Background of the Crisis Sweida Governorate has witnessed weeks of security tensions and sporadic clashes, coupled with difficult humanitarian conditions due to limited food and medical supplies. Amman, according to political sources, fears that any aid delivered outside official channels could pave the way for political or military arrangements that would complicate the situation along its northern border. Observers note that Jordan seeks to avoid actions that might be interpreted regionally or by Damascus as taking sides politically, while ensuring humanitarian efforts remain coordinated with Syria and international organizations, protecting its border security and reinforcing its role as a regional mediator. According to analysts, Tel Aviv aims through this initiative to achieve multiple objectives: improving its international image after widespread criticism over the Gaza blockade, accusing the Syrian government of withholding aid from the Druze community, consolidating influence within Syria through pro-Israeli local forces, and fomenting internal confrontations among Syrian communities. Meanwhile, Damascus, in a joint statement with Amman on August 12, affirmed its commitment to increasing humanitarian aid access to Sweida via UN channels, establishing safe corridors for aid delivery, restoring essential services, and ensuring civilians can move freely without harassment or detention. Current indications suggest that the Syrian government is likely to reject any Israeli request to establish a direct corridor to Sweida, insisting instead on cooperation with UN agencies to meet humanitarian needs.
— (Al Jazeera)