Jordan strikes southern Syria after church attack; Damascus objects

Jordan said its air force carried out retaliatory strikes on what it called dens of terrorist organizations in southern Syria. The Jordanian Armed Forces said on X that fighter jets destroyed a number of sites in the southeast of the country, killing and wounding many members of the groups and destroying a number of vehicles. Jordan did not give locations or casualty figures.

Amman linked the strikes to last Friday's attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate, which killed nine people during a funeral. ISIL (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the October 23 attack. King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an "iron fist".

Syria contradicted Jordan's account. Its Foreign Ministry said it informed Jordan of its complete reservation over strikes carried out without prior coordination or notification. A ministry official told Al Jazeera the strikes were a "treacherous attack". Jordan's military had said the operation was coordinated with Damascus.

Syrian authorities said seven people were killed in the Deraa and Suwayda countryside, including three children, according to Al Jazeera. Syria's emergency ministry said teams responded at four sites. Civil defence said five members of one family, including three children and a woman, died in a strike on a tent in al-Taff village, Lajat area, and three other family members were hurt.

Civil defence also reported that an 80-year-old man, Riyad Karrad, was killed in a strike on a farm near Nassib, and a 60-year-old man, Mutlaq Abu al-Khail, was killed in a strike on a home in Shuhayb, in northern Suwayda. A strike on a home in Muzayrib caused no casualties. France 24 reported that Jordan said it regretted the civilian casualties.

Syrian customs authorities closed the Nassib crossing, the only route for passenger and commercial traffic between the two countries. The Foreign Ministry said it was in contact with Jordan to establish the circumstances and would address the aftermath while safeguarding Syria's security and sovereignty.

In Jordan, police arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law over the church attack. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh said investigations continue and there are no indications of links to other cells. Jordan has struck southern Syria since 2023, saying it targeted drug and arms smugglers.