Jordan Kills Seven in Syria, Closes Only Border Gate

Seven people died in cross-border airstrikes launched by Jordan into Syria on Monday. The Jordanian armed forces said the strikes targeted hideouts for armed groups linked to a fatal church shooting. Initial reports confirmed the death of at least one woman and several children among the victims.

The air operation followed an incident last week in which gunmen opened fire on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral in the Karak governorate. That attack killed nine people and wounded dozens. The church is located approximately 90km south of Amman. Jordanian authorities described the strikes as a direct response to the violence in Karak.

The Jordanian military stated that the operation targeted terrorist organizations in southeastern Syria. A statement from the army said the strikes resulted in the killing and wounding of many group members and the destruction of several vehicles. The military did not specify which groups were attacked or the precise locations of the bombing runs. Jordan said it launched the efforts in coordination with the Syrian government.

Syria disputed that coordination occurred. The Syrian defence ministry issued a statement on Telegram claiming one Jordanian attack hit five members of the same family. Those victims included three children, a woman, and a man. Two other strikes reportedly killed two older men, aged 60 and 80. The bombs landed in the southern Syrian provinces of Deraa and Suwayda.

Following the strikes, the Syrian border authority announced the closure of the Nassib border crossing. Traffic suspended in both directions immediately. The Nassib crossing serves as Jordan’s only passenger and commercial border point with Syria. The Syrian government launched an investigation into the attacks and stressed the need for joint field and security coordination in border areas.

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. Authorities said the three men were involved in a shootout with police that lasted about three hours. A government source noted the suspects sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. They are primary suspects in the October 23 church attack.

King Abdullah II pledged a stern response to the church shooting after the incident. He ordered a review of the country’s security procedures. Karak is home to a minority Christian population comprising about 300,000 of Jordan’s 11.5 million residents. The king stated those behind the attack would face the harshest penalties.