Legitimate concern

Jordan is keeping a close watch over developments in the south of Syria in the wake of Damascus' recent threat to launch an attack on rebel forces deployed in and around the city of Daraa.

Jordan's concern is, of course, legitimate since Jordan, Russia and the US had reached an agreement last year declaring the area as a de-escalation zone.

Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a stern warning to Damascus last Friday not to violate the de-escalation zone accord or else face a "firm" reaction.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has corroborated Jordan's stance on the situation by declaring that only the Syrian army can be deployed along the country's southern border with Jordan, which has been construed as signal that no Iranian or Hizbollah forces can be deployed in the affected territory.

It goes without saying that Jordan cannot afford the deployment of foreign armed factions along its northern border with Syria.

What complicates the equation for all stakeholders is Israel's militant stance, since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on record as not tolerating the presence of any Iranian or Hizbollah militias close to its northern border with Syria.

It so happens that the de-escalation zone in southern Syria is one of the few ceasefire zones still holding in the country. The meeting of the minds between Amman, Moscow and Washington on the need to respect the ceasefire regime in and around Daraa is, therefore, critical for all concerned and sets an example for other ceasefire zones in Syria.

Besides, Jordan means business when it says that it will not stay silent in the face of any provocations from whatever side. That is why Jordan keeps its army deployed along its northern border with Syria on high alert at all times.