Jordan-Syria Tensions: Airstrikes Kill Seven, Border Gate Closed

Jordanian aircraft struck targets in southeastern Syria on Monday, killing at least seven people, including a woman and children, according to initial reports. The strikes followed the arrest of three suspects in a fatal church shooting in Jordan’s Karak governorate.

The Jordanian military described the operation as a response to armed groups linked to the October 23 attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak. Gunmen opened fire during a funeral, leaving nine people dead and dozens wounded. The military said the strikes destroyed several vehicles and killed members of the groups, though it did not name the specific organizations or pinpoint the exact locations of the bombs.

Syrian authorities disputed Jordan’s claim of coordination. The Syrian defence ministry stated on Telegram that one attack hit five members of a single family, including three children, a woman, and a man. Two other strikes killed men aged 60 and 80. The impact was felt in the southern Syrian provinces of Deraa and Suwayda.

The Syrian government launched an investigation into the cross-border fire. In a statement, officials emphasized the need for joint field and security coordination in border areas. Following the strikes, the Syrian border authority closed the Nassib crossing, suspending traffic in both directions. This is Jordan’s only passenger and commercial border crossing with Syria.

The escalation began earlier on Monday when Jordanian security forces arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The three men were suspects in the church attack. A government source said the suspects sustained serious injuries in a shootout that lasted about three hours.

King Abdullah II had previously promised a stern response to the shooting. He ordered a review of national security procedures and stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties. Karak is home to a minority Christian population, which accounts for roughly 300,000 of Jordan’s 11.5 million residents.

Jordan and Syria continue to manage the fallout from the strikes. The closure of the Nassib gate has stopped the flow of goods and people between the two countries. Syrian officials are reviewing the incident while Jordanian forces maintain their security posture in the southern provinces.