The phenomenon of the Israeli-backed Druze Hijri militias has transcended the local framework within which it was long categorized. What we are witnessing now is not merely the proliferation of weapons outside state control, but a qualitative shift towards the formation of an organized criminal structure. This structure has transformed from an internal security threat into a transnational entity, with drug trafficking as its backbone and source of funding.
These groups have moved beyond the stage of posing a direct internal security threat to creating a shadow criminal economy reliant on international smuggling networks. This places neighboring countries—especially Jordan, given its long and rugged borders—at the height of an increasing danger. This danger is not limited to occasional security breaches, but extends to systematic targeting that benefits from the protection afforded by these militias' areas of influence.
It is now noticeable that smuggling attempts across the borders are no longer individual or random acts, but rather are carried out with professional methods that reflect logistical and administrative planning, indicating the existence of a comprehensive criminal infrastructure. This transformation makes confronting them a complex challenge, requiring a deeper understanding of their funding network and their cross-border penetration.
On the political level, the continued activity and expansion of these militias indicates the failure of local containment strategies, gradually transforming them into a tool that regional actors may use to destabilize the region. On the media level, fragmented coverage or downplaying their threat paves the way for their growth and expansion.
In conclusion, dealing with the al-Hijri militias is no longer a local issue concerning a single state. The threat has become regional, and the solution, therefore, must also be regional: through effective security and intelligence cooperation, and political coordination that prioritizes cutting off funding sources—especially drug trafficking—before this criminal entity becomes a permanent reality threatening the security of the entire region.
Kinan ibn al-Jabal
Zaman Al Wasl
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