Damascus,Oct. 24 (SANA) Tom Barrack, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq, said “ that Sheikh in Sweida city- referring to Hikmat al-Hijri- who gives people the impression that he enjoys U.S. support, is entirely mistaken.”
“We stand alongside Syria, Jordan-Israel- and Lebanon to ensure that those borders remain quiet,” Barrack said, noting that exchanging accusations does not help resolve the existing problems.
In an interview with journalist Mario Nawfal, published on X platform, Barrack pointed out that weapons can be moved across borders and that groups in Sweida can also arm themselves using money generated from the Captagon trade.
He expressed concern over what he described as the unacceptable conduct of these armed groups.
Sweida Governorate continues to face the consequences of deteriorating security conditions linked to the presence of outlaw groups accused of carrying out killings, kidnappings, and extortion, as well as targeting national figures and voices that advocate Syria’s unity and reject separatist projects and weapons outside state control.
These groups are also obstructing efforts to reach solutions that would help restore stability in the region, seeking to preserve their interests, influence, and profits from drug manufacturing and trafficking.
Over the past several months, the Durg Enforcement Department, in cooperation with Internal Security Forces, has thwarted numerous attempts to smuggle narcotics from the countryside of Sweida Governorate toward the Jordanian border.
I.Z/MZ
