Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria
Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in Damascus on Monday that his country wants to see the border with Syria free from drug smuggling.
The Jordanian official was in the Syrian capital to meet Syria's de facto leader Ahmad Al Shara. He is the highest-ranking Arab official to visit the neighbouring country since the overthrow of the former regime two weeks ago.
The cross-border flow of drugs has been a prominent national security threat in the Middle East. Captagon worth billions of dollars has crossed from Syria into other Arab countries through Jordan every year since 2018. In 2021, the Syrian regime is estimated to have made more than $5 billion from the sale of Captagon.
But Syria's production of the drug has all but come to a halt since the ousting of Bashar Al Assad's regime, a Jordanian and a European official told The National. “We want that border to be stable, freed from terrorist organisations, free from drug smuggling, weapons smuggling,” Mr Safadi said in Damascus. “The challenge remains as the attempts to smuggle continue,” he added.
Cartels linked to the Fourth Armoured Division of the Syrian army and Iranian-backed auxiliaries have enabled its spread. It was a major source of income for the ruling elite in Damascus, and for Hezbollah and other non-state supporters of the regime, according to regional security officials.
The flow of drugs was one of the main reasons Arab countries ended hostilities with Bashar Al Assad three years ago and normalised ties with his government, seeking co-operation in combating the smuggling operation.
Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which led the rebel advance that deposed Mr Al Assad, has established military control over the main border crossings with Jordan and Lebanon as it consolidates control in Syria. On the issue of the Israeli invasion of Syria, the Jordanian official said Israel's actions were an "encroachment of Syrian sovereignty", and that it "should withdraw" from recently occupied Syrian territories.
WWE TLC results
Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins
Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles
Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax
Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match
Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre
Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match
Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match
Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day
R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
