Jordanian Air Force: Seven killed in Syria as border shuts

Jordanian aircraft struck targets in southeastern Syria on Monday, killing at least seven people, including a woman and three children. The Jordanian military described the operation as a response to gunmen who killed nine people in a church in Karak governorate last week. The strikes targeted hideouts linked to the attack.

The violence follows a shooting on October 23, when three men opened fire on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral. The attack occurred approximately 90km south of Amman. King Abdullah II vowed to impose the harshest penalties on those responsible. He also ordered a review of national security procedures.

Jordanian security forces arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law in the village of Al-Jadeeda earlier on Monday. The three men are suspects in the church attack. They sustained serious injuries during a three-hour shootout with authorities. A government source confirmed the arrests took place before the air strikes began.

Jordan stated that the strikes hit terrorist organizations in Deraa and Suwayda provinces. The military said the attacks destroyed several vehicles and killed many group members. However, the Syrian government denied coordinating with the Jordanian forces. Syria’s defence ministry released a statement on Telegram detailing civilian casualties.

According to the Syrian defence ministry, one Jordanian attack hit five members of a single family. The victims included a man, a woman, and three children. Two other strikes killed a 60-year-old man and an 80-year-old man. The Syrian government has launched an investigation into the cross-border attacks.

The Syrian border authority closed the Nassib crossing on Monday. This is Jordan’s only passenger and commercial border gate with Syria. Traffic was suspended in both directions immediately following the strikes. The Syrian government emphasized the need for joint field and security coordination in border areas.

Karak governorate is home to a minority Christian population. Christians make up roughly 300,000 of Jordan’s 11.5 million residents. The Jordanian military did not specify which armed groups were targeted in the Syrian provinces. The strikes occurred less than 48 hours after the suspects were detained in Al-Jadeeda.