Jordan bombs Syrian village after nine killed in Karak church shooting

Jordanian fighter jets struck targets in southern Syria on Monday in retaliation for a shooting at a Christian funeral last week that left nine people dead. The Syrian military described the targets as terrorist organizations, while Syrian health officials reported that five civilians were killed in the village in Daraa province. Among the dead were women, children, and an elderly man.

The initial attack occurred on Friday at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak. Nine people were killed and 34 others injured during the shooting. Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects in an abandoned house near the site before dawn on Monday. The Public Security Directorate identified the men as two brothers and their brother-in-law, all Jordanian citizens who had been hiding in a building near the attack location.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated television that the attackers were hiding in a village close to the church. He stated the men had been holed up in a building in one of the villages near the site of the attack. Jordan claimed its air strike killed and wounded several terrorists, though it provided no specific casualty figures from the bombing.

Syrian authorities disputed Jordan’s claim of prior coordination. While Jordan said it worked with the Syrian government, Damascus stated it was not notified of the Monday attack. In response, Syria closed the Nassib border crossing, the only passenger and commercial gateway between the two countries.

Syrian authorities announced a complete suspension of passenger and commercial traffic in both directions to protect travelers and workers. They also said they opened direct communication channels with Jordanian officials and launched comprehensive investigations to determine the full circumstances of the targeting.