Jordanian Airstrike on Syria: Nine Dead in Church Shooting
Jordan retaliated against a funeral attack, while Damascus closed the Nassib border crossing after the strike.
By Anthony Foster ·
Jordanian fighter jets struck targets in southern Syria on Monday in response to a funeral shooting in Karak last Friday. The Jordanian military identified the targets as terrorist organizations. Syrian health officials reported that five people were killed in the strike, which hit a village in Daraa province. The deceased included women, children, and an elderly man. Jordan stated that its forces killed and wounded several terrorists but did not provide specific casualty numbers for the attackers.
The initial incident occurred on Friday at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak. A shooting at the funeral service killed nine people and injured 34 others. Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects earlier on Monday. The Public Security Directorate said the men were found hiding in an abandoned house near the attack site before dawn. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state television that the three attackers were Jordanians. He described them as two brothers and their brother-in-law who had been holed up in a building in a nearby village.
Differences emerged regarding the coordination of the strike. Jordan claimed it had coordinated the action with the Syrian government. Syria stated it had not been notified of the attack on Monday. In response, Syrian authorities closed the Nassib border crossing. This is the only passenger and commercial crossing between the two countries. A statement from Syrian authorities said passenger and commercial traffic would be suspended in both directions to ensure safety for travelers and workers.
Syrian officials said they opened direct communication channels with Jordanian counterparts. They also launched comprehensive investigations to determine the full circumstances of the targeting. The closure affects all traffic at the crossing until further notice. The Jordanian military did not specify the exact time of the airstrike or the number of aircraft used. The Syrian government did not release a detailed list of the five victims.
Source: BBC News
