Jordan Strikes Islamic State Targets in Syria After Deadly Church Attack

Jordan says its air force hit suspected militant hideouts in southern Syria on Monday evening and killed more than 20 Islamic State fighters, according to Reuters report. Amman described the raids as a response to the church attack that left nine people dead, after concluding that the suspects had ties to armed groups operating across the border. No group has claimed the assault. Jordanian security officials also reported the arrest of two brothers and their brother-in-law following a shootout linked to the case.

Syria Reports Civilian Deaths

Damascus gave a different account of the damage, saying seven people died, among them three children and a woman. Government Communication Minister Mohammed al-Momani expressed regret over the civilian losses in a post on X. Rescue teams from the White Helmets worked at the affected sites in Daraa and As-Suwayda.

Syria and Jordan Disagree Over Coordination

The two governments do not agree on how the operation was handled. Jordan’s military says it acted in coordination with Damascus, while Syria says there was no prior coordination and has opened an investigation. Its foreign ministry called the strikes a violation of national sovereignty, yet also said it is working with Amman and will set up a joint security committee to tighten border security and prevent a repeat.

Questions Over the Justification

Recent statements from Jordanian authorities that the church attack was not planned in advance add to the confusion, since they appear to clash with the reasoning given for striking across the border.