Jordan hits Daraa province after Karak church funeral shooting

Tensions escalated between Amman and Damascus on Monday following a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak last Friday. Jordanian fighter jets struck targets in Syria's southern Daraa province in what the military described as a retaliatory operation against terrorist groups.

Syrian health officials reported that five people died in the strike on a village. The victims included women, children, and an elderly man. Jordan stated that its jets killed and wounded several terrorists but did not release specific casualty figures for the attack.

The two nations offered conflicting accounts of their coordination during the strike. Jordan claimed it had coordinated with the Syrian government. In contrast, Syrian officials stated they had not been notified of the Monday assault.

Syria responded by closing the Nassib border crossing, the only passenger and commercial route between the two countries. Authorities suspended all traffic in both directions to protect travelers and workers. They also said they opened direct communication channels with Jordan and launched comprehensive investigations into the targeting.

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects earlier on Monday. The Public Security Directorate identified them as two brothers and their brother-in-law who were hiding in an abandoned house in Karak. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated television that all three attackers were Jordanians and had been holed up in a building near the attack site.

The initial violence occurred on Friday at a Christian funeral. Nine people were killed and 34 were injured in the shooting at the church in Karak.