Jordan has carried out a series of military airstrikes in southern Syria, purportedly targeting armed group hideouts following a deadly church attack in Karak that left nine people dead and numerous others wounded. Initial reports indicate that at least seven individuals, including a woman and several children, were killed in the bombardment, which struck areas within the Deraa and Suwayda provinces.

The Jordanian military asserted that the operations were executed in coordination with the Syrian government. However, Damascus flatly denied any such cooperation, with the Syrian defence ministry releasing statements claiming the strikes hit civilian homes, wiping out multiple members of a single family. In response to the unilateral military action, Syrian border authorities announced the immediate closure of the Nassib crossing, effectively halting all passenger and commercial transit between the two neighbouring nations.

Meanwhile, Jordanian security forces reportedly apprehended multiple suspects following an intense shootout in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The crackdown comes in the wake of King Abdullah II’s public pledges to impose the harshest penalties on those responsible for the church assault and to overhaul national security protocols. The unfolding crisis highlights deep friction and ongoing security vulnerabilities across the contested border region.

Source: www.aljazeera.com