Syrian Defense Minister Makes Rare Visit to Jordan to Discuss Border Issues

Officials stated that the Syrian Defense Minister visited Jordan on Sunday to discuss stability along their shared borders, marking the first visit of its kind since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict ten years ago. The meeting follows the Syrian army regaining control of the city of Daraa, south of Damascus, this month, as part of a deal mediated by Russia that prevented a full-scale military assault on the city. The Jordanian army reported that its commander, Major General Yusuf al-Hunaiti, met with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Ayoub to discuss the situation in Daraa and address issues such as counterterrorism and drug smuggling in the region. A statement from the Jordanian army noted that the discussions aim to intensify future coordination on all common issues.