Jordan targets Syrian villages after church attack; Damascus cites seven dead

Jordanian fighter jets struck four sites in southern Syria overnight, killing seven people according to Damascus. The Royal Air Force said it targeted locations it described as dens of terrorist organizations linked to the October 23 attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate. Syria’s foreign ministry rejected the official account, stating the strikes occurred without prior coordination or notification.

The conflict stems from a funeral attack in Jordan on Friday that left nine people dead. IS claimed responsibility for that incident. On Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects after a shootout. Major-General Obaidullah al-Maaytah, the director of public security, identified the detainees as Hazza Zaidan Mohammed, Meshal Zaidan Mohammed, and Ahmad Sami Hussein. King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist. Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed investigations were ongoing and said there were no immediate indications of links to other cells.

Jordanian military posts on X stated that the operation resulted in the killing and wounding of many elements of the terrorist organizations. The posts also claimed the destruction of several vehicles and emphasized that the operation was conducted in coordination with Damascus. Jordan did not specify the exact locations of the strikes or provide its own casualty figures. The Jordanian Armed Forces have conducted cross-border strikes since 2023, primarily targeting drug and arms smugglers, though previous operations in January 2024 drew scrutiny after civilians were killed.

Syrian authorities reported that the overnight strikes hit the countryside of Deraa and Suwayda provinces. The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management said its teams responded to attacks at four specific sites. In the village of al-Taff, a strike on a tent killed five members of a single family, including three children and a woman. Three other family members were injured. In the al-Shayah farms near Nassib, an 80-year-old man named Riyad Karrad was killed. A strike on a home in Shuhayb killed a 60-year-old man named Mutlaq Abu al-Khail. Rescue teams worked to recover his body from the rubble. A fourth strike hit a home in Muzayrib, where no casualties were reported.

A Syrian foreign ministry official characterized the strikes as a treacherous attack. Syria issued a statement expressing complete reservation over the operation. The ministry said it was in contact with Jordan to establish the circumstances of the strikes. Damascus stated it would address the aftermath while safeguarding the country's security and sovereignty. There was no immediate comment from Jordan regarding the Syrian claim that the victims were civilians rather than armed fighters.

Syrian customs authorities closed the Nassib border crossing shortly after the attacks. This crossing serves as the only pathway for passenger and commercial traffic between the two neighbors. The closure follows a pattern of intermittent border tensions since Syria’s new government took power. Jordanian officials have previously noted that armed groups along the border carry narcotics, arms, and explosives, which they suspect are linked to Iran-allied factions. Human Rights Watch has previously demanded accountability for Jordanian cross-border airstrikes that have killed women and children.

The next diplomatic steps are currently under discussion between the two capitals. Syria’s foreign ministry indicated it is working to clarify the sequence of events with its Jordanian counterparts. The strikes mark the latest escalation in a border dispute that has involved multiple air campaigns since 2023. Both nations are now focused on managing the immediate aftermath of the overnight bombardment in the Deraa and Suwayda regions.