Jordan has carried out air attacks inside Syria, targeting what it called shelters used by armed groups. Initial reports say at least seven people were killed, including a woman and children.
The Jordanian armed forces said on Monday that the strikes were a response to a shooting at a church last week in Karak governorate. Nine people died and dozens were wounded in that attack.
Military says strikes hit groups linked to church attackers
The Jordanian military said the operation was aimed at “terrorist organisations in southeastern Syria” connected to the church attackers. It said the strikes killed and wounded many members of these groups and destroyed several of their vehicles.
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The military did not say which groups were hit or where exactly the strikes took place. Jordan said the operation was carried out in coordination with the Syrian government, but Syria has denied coordinating with the Jordanian military.
Syria disputes Jordan’s account and opens investigation
Syria’s defence ministry said in a Telegram statement that one Jordanian strike killed five members of the same family, including three children, a woman and a man. Two other strikes reportedly killed a 60-year-old man and an 80-year-old man.
The strikes reportedly hit the southern Syrian provinces of Deraa and Suwayda. The Syrian government has opened an investigation and stressed the need for “joint field and security coordination” in border areas.
Syria’s border authority then closed the Nassib crossing with Jordan, halting movement in both directions. Nassib is Jordan’s only passenger and commercial crossing with Syria.
Arrests in Al-Jadeeda follow church attack suspects
Earlier on Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law in the village of Al-Jadeeda after a shootout with authorities. The three men are suspects in the October 23 church attack.
A Jordanian government source said the suspects were seriously injured during the confrontation, which lasted about three hours.
The strikes and arrests came after Jordan’s King Abdullah II vowed a stern response to the attack. Three men allegedly opened fire on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral about 90km (56 miles) south of the capital, Amman.
Karak has a minority Christian population of about 300,000 out of Jordan’s 11.5 million people. King Abdullah said those responsible would face the “harshest penalties” and ordered a review of the country’s security procedures.
