Jordanian Airstrikes in Syria: Cross-Border Tensions Rise After Church Attack

Jordan conducted air strikes in southeastern Syria on Monday, targeting hideouts of armed groups it linked to a recent church shooting. The Jordanian military stated the operation killed at least seven individuals, including a woman and children, while destroying several vehicles.

The strikes were a response to an October 23 incident in Karak governorate, where gunmen opened fire on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral. That attack left nine people dead and dozens wounded in the village of Al-Jadeeda, located approximately 90 kilometers south of the capital, Amman.

Jordanian forces claimed they coordinated the Monday operations with the Syrian government. However, the Syrian defense ministry denied this, stating in a Telegram post that one Jordanian attack hit five members of the same family, including three children, a woman, and a man. Two additional strikes killed men aged 60 and 80 in the Deraa and Suwayda provinces.

The Jordanian military did not specify which terrorist organizations were targeted or provide the precise locations of the strikes. It described the operation as a response to the church attackers, emphasizing the destruction of their vehicles and personnel.

Following the airstrikes, the Syrian border authority closed the Nassib border crossing, suspending traffic in both directions. Nassib serves as Jordan's only passenger and commercial crossing point with Syria. The Syrian government launched an investigation into the strikes and stressed the need for joint field and security coordination in border areas.

Earlier on Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects in the church attack: two brothers and their brother-in-law. The men were detained in Al-Jadeeda after a shootout with authorities that lasted approximately three hours. A government source said the suspects sustained serious injuries during the confrontation.

King Abdullah II pledged a stern response to the church attack, ordering a review of national security procedures. He stated that those behind the incident would face the harshest penalties. The Karak region is home to a minority Christian population, which comprises about 300,000 of Jordan's 11.5 million residents.