Jordan Says It Hit Militant Hideouts in Syria Linked to Church Attack

Jordan launched airstrikes Monday against alleged militant hideouts in southern Syria after linking suspects in a deadly church attack to groups operating across the border.

The Jordanian military said it conducted the strikes in coordination with Syrian authorities.

Damascus challenged that account, saying it had received no prior coordination and had opened an investigation.

Syria’s foreign ministry said it had conveyed its “complete reservation” to Jordan.

The government also stressed the need for coordination between security forces operating in border areas.

Seven Reported Killed

The Syrian Civil Defense said its preliminary findings showed seven people had been killed, including three children and a woman. Three others were wounded.

Emergency crews attended four locations struck in rural areas of Daraa and Sweida provinces, the organization said. Jordan did not immediately respond.

On Tuesday, Syrian authorities shut the Nassib crossing to passenger and commercial traffic in both directions, citing developments in Daraa.

The closure suspended movement through Jordan’s only passenger and commercial border crossing with Syria.

Church Attack Suspects Arrested

The air operation followed Friday’s shooting at a Greek Orthodox funeral in Hamoud, a village about 120km southwest of Amman. Nine people were killed and at least 34 wounded.

Witnesses described gunfire lasting several minutes. The attack on Jordan’s Christian minority prompted King Abdullah to demand an “iron fist” response from security forces.

Earlier Monday, senior security officials announced the arrest of two brothers and their brother-in-law following a shootout in al-Judayyda, in Karak governorate.

The Public Security Directorate said officers had traced the suspects to an abandoned house.

The three refused to surrender and fired on security personnel, who wounded them before making the arrests.

No security personnel were injured. Officers recovered firearms and ammunition, according to the directorate.

Investigations Remain Open

Jordan said the suspects had connections to “terrorist groups” in southern Syria.

However, officials did not identify any Islamist organization at their press conference, and no group has claimed responsibility for the church attack.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said investigators had yet to establish connections to other cells.

“The file has not yet been closed; investigations are still ongoing. As of today, there are no indications of any links between them and other cells,” he said.

The suspects lived near Hamoud and would face justice, officials said.

Such attacks are uncommon in Jordan, a relatively stable U.S. ally that has previously disrupted militant plots.