National Guard shot down explosive balloons in Suwaida countryside

The National Guard Command announced in a statement on Wednesday that it had detected and downed balloons carrying a shipment of narcotics launched from the eastern Daraa countryside towards the Suwaida countryside.

The statement read: "At 10:00 PM last night, National Guard units detected the launch of balloons carrying a prepared shipment from areas in the eastern Daraa countryside towards the northeastern countryside of the Jabal al-Druze region."

It added: "The balloons were found to be filled with helium gas and used to transport a shipment of narcotics. They were also booby-trapped and rigged to explode." The statement indicated that the units targeted and downed the balloons before they reached their destination.

The statement explained that the balloons landed between the villages of Amra and al-Hayat, where the mines were dismantled and approximately 15 kilograms of Captagon pills were seized.

The Command asserted that "this operation proves the government's involvement in drug trafficking," and called on residents to report any suspicious objects to maintain public safety.

Sh-S

ANHA