Jordanian fighter jets kill five in Syrian village after Karak church killings

Tensions rose between Jordan and Syria on Monday as Amman launched a retaliatory airstrike against targets in the southern Daraa province. The military action followed a shooting at a Christian funeral in Karak last Friday that left nine people dead and 34 others injured.

Syrian health officials reported that the strike killed five people, including women, children, and an elderly man. Jordanian fighter jets reportedly killed and wounded several individuals described by the military as members of terrorist organizations. The Jordanian government stated it coordinated with the Syrian government for the operation, but Damascus said it had not received prior notification of the attack on Monday.

In response to the cross-border strike, Syrian authorities closed the Nassib border crossing. Officials announced a complete suspension of passenger and commercial traffic in both directions to ensure the safety of travelers and workers. Syrian representatives stated that direct channels of communication with Jordanian officials were open and that comprehensive investigations were underway to establish the full circumstances of the targeting.

Jordanian security forces made arrests earlier on Monday, detaining two brothers and their brother-in-law. The Public Security Directorate said the three men, who were described as terrorists, were found hiding in an abandoned house in Karak before dawn. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated television that the attackers were all Jordanians and had been holed up in a building in a village near the attack site.