Jordan strikes Syria over church killings

Five people died in Syria after Jordanian fighter jets struck a village in retaliation for a church attack.

The conflict escalated this week following a deadly shooting in Karak. On Friday, gunmen opened fire during a Greek Orthodox funeral. Nine people died and 34 others were injured in the attack. Jordanian security forces responded on Monday by arresting three suspects. The Public Security Directorate said the men, who were brothers and their brother-in-law, were hiding in an abandoned house near the church. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya confirmed the attackers were all Jordanian citizens.

Jordan launched its military response on Monday. The air force targeted what it described as terrorist organizations in the southern Daraa province of Syria. Syrian health officials reported that the strike killed five people. Among the dead were women, children, and an elderly man. Jordan said its jets killed and wounded several terrorists but did not release a specific casualty count.

The two nations disagreed on the coordination of the strike. Jordan stated it worked with the Syrian government before the attack. Syria countered that it had not received any notification of the operation. In response to the bombing, Syrian authorities closed the Nassib border crossing. This is the only passenger and commercial crossing between the two countries. Officials said the closure would suspend all traffic in both directions to ensure safety.

Syrian authorities said they had opened direct communication channels with Jordanian officials. They also launched an investigation to determine the full circumstances of the targeting. The border closure remains in effect as both sides manage the aftermath of the cross-border violence.