Jordanian jets hit Syria after Karak church attack
Five killed in Daraa province as Syria closes border over disputed retaliatory strike.
By Hiroshi Sato ·
Jordanian fighter jets struck a village in Syria's southern Daraa province on Monday. The military said it targeted "terrorist organisations" in retaliation for a shooting at a Christian funeral in Karak last Friday that killed nine people. Syrian health officials reported that five residents died in the airstrike, including women, children, and an elderly man. Jordan stated that its jets killed and wounded "several terrorists" but did not provide a specific count of casualties.
Syrian authorities said the cross-border strike was not coordinated with Damascus. Jordan claimed it had co-ordinated with the Syrian government, but Syria disputed that claim. In response to the attack, Syrian officials announced the closure of the Nassib border crossing. A statement carried by state media said the decision includes the complete suspension of passenger and commercial traffic in both directions to ensure safety. Nassib is the only passenger and commercial border crossing between the two countries.
Syrian authorities said they opened direct channels of communication with Jordanian officials. They also launched comprehensive investigations to establish the full circumstances of the targeting. The move follows a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak on Friday, which left nine people dead and 34 injured.
Earlier on Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects linked to the church attack. The Public Security Directorate said the men were found hiding in an abandoned house in Karak before dawn. The group consisted of two brothers and their brother-in-law. Jordan's Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated TV that all attackers were Jordanians. He said they had been holed up in a building in a village near the attack site.
Syria and Jordan now face a diplomatic dispute over the strike and the border closure. The arrests provide the first named suspects in the Karak case. The status of the Nassib crossing remains closed as both sides continue their investigations.
Source: BBC News
