King Abdullah II of Jordan reaffirmed that Amman rejects Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and expressed support for Damascus’s efforts to ensure security, stability and sovereignty. He made the remarks at a meeting with Syria’s foreign minister and minister for expatriates, Asaad al-Shaibani, where the two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in energy, transport, trade and investment.
The talks also covered regional developments, including the situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Jordan and Syria stressed the need to step up efforts to ease tensions and safeguard the security and sovereignty of Arab states. Al-Shaibani, in turn, said Damascus would not accept Israeli attacks in southern Syria and warned that they posed a threat to stability across the region.
The Syrian minister also condemned the death of a young man with a disability in the village of Jamla, in Daraa province in southern Syria, following the entry of Israeli forces. In Aqaba, he discussed the development of bilateral relations with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and preparations for the third meeting of the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council, scheduled to take place in Damascus on November 8–9. The ministers agreed to continue work on strategic projects in food security, energy, water resources and transport, as well as other priority initiatives that can be implemented.
In a joint statement published on Thursday, the governments of Jordan and Syria again condemned repeated Israeli attacks and incursions into Syrian territory and called for them to stop. The ministers also expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for measures to protect its security, stability and sovereignty, as well as the safety of its citizens and residents. They also condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian and economic facilities, calling them a violation of international law and an assault on the kingdom’s sovereignty and security.
News Q&A
- What is the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council, and which strategic energy, water and transport projects is it expected to agree on at its meeting in Damascus? — It is a bilateral political and economic mechanism established by Jordan and Syria to coordinate trade, border security, energy, water resources and transport following the change of power in Damascus. At the meeting in Damascus, the sides are expected to agree on an electricity interconnection and supplies of electricity from Jordan to Syria, use of gas infrastructure, projects in the Yarmouk River basin and joint water management, as well as opening and upgrading the Nasib/Jaber border crossings, the Amman-Damascus highway and rail and logistics routes.
- Why are the village of Jamla in Daraa province and the presence of Israeli forces in southern Syria considered especially sensitive for the security of Syria and Jordan? — Jamla is in southern Daraa province, near the Golan Heights and the Jordanian border. Any Israeli raid or presence there is therefore seen as a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement agreement, and risks triggering escalation with local armed groups, population displacement and increased smuggling. This is especially sensitive for Jordan because instability and Israeli operations near its border threaten border security, could trigger an influx of refugees and undermine coordination in southern Syria.
Full article: Jordan and Syria reaffirm rejection of Israeli attacks and discuss strengthening cooperation