Jordan Bombs Syria After Church Shooting

The Nassib border crossing between Jordan and Syria closed to all passenger and commercial traffic on Monday. This is Jordan’s only land link to Syria, and the suspension means travelers and goods are currently stuck on either side of the border.

Jordanian forces launched air strikes in southeastern Syria to retaliate for a fatal shooting at a church in the Karak governorate last week. The attack on October 23 killed nine people and wounded dozens during a funeral service. Three men opened fire on the Greek Orthodox congregation, which is located about 90 kilometers south of the capital, Amman. Karak is home to roughly 300,000 of Jordan’s 11.5 million residents who belong to the Christian minority.

The Jordanian military stated that the strikes targeted hideouts of armed groups linked to the church attackers. The operation aimed to destroy vehicles and kill members of these organizations. Jordan claimed the action was taken in coordination with the Syrian government. However, the Syrian defence ministry disputed this account in a Telegram post. It said one Jordanian bomb hit five members of a single family, killing three children, a woman, and a man. Two other strikes killed men aged 60 and 80. The Syrian side did not confirm the Jordanian claim that the targets were strictly terrorist groups.

The strikes hit the southern Syrian provinces of Deraa and Suwayda. Initial reports indicated at least seven people died in the Jordanian attacks. Syria has opened an investigation into the incident. Its defence ministry emphasized the need for joint field and security coordination in border areas, suggesting the lack of prior communication caused the civilian casualties.

Earlier on Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested three men in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The suspects are two brothers and their brother-in-law. They were involved in a shootout that lasted about three hours. A government source said the men sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. They are the primary suspects in the October 23 church attack.

King Abdullah II pledged a stern response following the shooting. He ordered a review of the country’s security procedures. The monarch stated that those responsible for the attack would face the harshest penalties.

The Jordanian military did not specify the exact location of the strikes or name the specific groups targeted. The Syrian government’s denial of coordination remains the central point of dispute between the two nations as investigations continue.