Jordan strikes Syria in retaliation for deadly church attack
Jordanian military launched airstrikes in Syria's Daraa province following a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in Karak that killed nine people.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Jordanian fighter jets targeted positions in southern Syria's Daraa province.
- The military action was a response to a deadly church funeral shooting in Karak.
- Syrian health officials confirmed five deaths, including women and children.
- Syria immediately closed its sole passenger and commercial border crossing with Jordan.
Jordanian military forces have carried out airstrikes against what they described as terrorist organizations inside Syrian territory, executing a retaliatory operation following a mass shooting last week that left nine people dead at a funeral service.
According to Syrian health officials speaking to state media, five individuals—including women, children, and an elderly man—lost their lives during the strike on a village located in the southern Daraa province. Meanwhile, the Jordanian military reported that its fighter jets had killed and wounded several terrorists without disclosing further operational specifics.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
A diplomatic disagreement emerged regarding advance notification of the military action. While Jordan maintained that it had coordinated the operation with the Syrian government, authorities in Damascus countered by stating they received no prior warning regarding Monday's airstrikes.
The escalation follows a violent incident on Friday where gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in Karak, resulting in nine fatalities and 34 injuries. Prior to the airstrikes on Monday, Jordanian security personnel successfully arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law, whom the Public Security Directorate identified as the suspects hiding in an abandoned building before dawn.
This cross-border confrontation highlights the volatile security dynamics along the Jordan-Syria frontier, where southern Syrian provinces like Daraa remain frequent flashpoints. The total suspension of traffic at the Nassib crossing severs the vital economic and travel umbilical cord between the two neighboring nations, underscoring how domestic security incidents can rapidly cascade into broader geopolitical tensions.
In direct response to the bombardment, Syrian authorities announced the immediate closure of the Nassib border crossing. The decision entails a complete halt to both passenger and commercial transit in both directions to safeguard travelers and workers at the frontier, which serves as the sole official land crossing between Jordan and Syria.
Source: BBC World
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