Photo source: Al Jazeera By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront Jordan has recently intensified its warnings against Iranian militias along its northern frontier, accusing Tehran of facilitating drug trafficking through drones and other methods. Officials in Amman argue that Iranian‑affiliated groups have expanded their influence in southern Syria, shifting the balance of power in the area. Al Jazeera reported that Jordanian authorities see narcotics smuggling as not only a criminal enterprise but also a geopolitical weapon, with militias using the trade to fund operations. These warnings are not new. Since Tehran intervened in the Syrian war in 2014 to support President Bashar al‑Assad, Jordan has been wary of being drawn into the conflict. By late 2021, drug smuggling had escalated and become increasingly violent. In January 2022, a Jordanian army officer was killed and three personnel injured when smugglers opened fire on an outpost along the border, according to Reuters. The ...

Photo Source: Sky News By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Up Front Jordan has witnessed its worst political unrest in five years, in May 2018. The public anger sums it all, which reflects a prolonged frustration. There were chantings of local folklore and slogans, similar of what was heard during the 2011 Arab Spring such as "the people want the fall of the government" and "I strike today to live tomorrow." This fury of protestors has prompted King Abdullah II to oust the current Prime Minister, Hani Mulki through a decree from the royal palace. The main difference between 2018 protests and the protests in 2011 is that during the Arab Spring, the far-flung tribes were at the centre stage in holding the protests. This time around, city dwellers coming from Irbid, Aqaba, Al-Zarqa and Salt, in addition to the capital have recorded a high participation. Omar Razzaz will replace Mulki, a Harvard educated former World Bank Official previously based ...