Jordanian military forces conducted a series of air strikes in southern Syria late on Monday, targeting positions associated with Daesh. According to Amman, the operation was a direct response to a deadly attack on mourners at Hamoud Church in Jordan’s Karak province last Friday, which resulted in the deaths of nine people.
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad al Momani stated on Tuesday that the operation successfully destroyed a major weapons depot and killed more than 20 members of Daesh. He explained that the strikes were executed after the government had exhausted its patience regarding terrorist movements and threats directed at national security. Al Momani noted that the military action was guided by field intelligence intended to neutralize confirmed threats and planned attacks against Jordan. While he expressed regret regarding civilian casualties, he emphasized that Jordan actively avoided striking locations where intelligence suggested civilians were present.
Reports from Syrian state media provided a different account of the impact. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the strikes hit several locations in Daraa province, resulting in at least five civilian deaths, including women and children. The provincial health director confirmed that seven people were killed in total, and two individuals injured in the western countryside of Muzayrib were transported to Tafas National Hospital. Among the fatalities was a 65-year-old man from the Tariq al Sadd neighbourhood in Daraa city, who succumbed to shrapnel wounds.
The Jordanian army confirmed it had struck sites belonging to "terrorist organisations" in southern Syria, adding that the operation destroyed vehicles and destroyed sites, though it did not specify the exact locations or identify the organizations beyond their links to the church attack. Separately, Jordanian security forces reported the arrest of three suspects in connection with the Karak church attack following a shootout on Monday. The three suspects were wounded during the confrontation, and no security personnel were injured, according to the Public Security Directorate.
The Syrian government strongly condemned the military action, with the foreign ministry issuing a statement rejecting the strikes as an "unacceptable violation and breach of Syrian airspace without any prior coordination." Damascus labeled the incident a "blatant violation of the principles of good-neighbourliness and Syrian national sovereignty." Syrian authorities have launched an investigation and indicated they are providing support to those affected, while urging joint security coordination for future operations in border areas.
In response to the criticism, Jordanian officials stated that the country respects the Syrian people and emphasized that bilateral coordination on counterterrorism, as well as the smuggling of weapons and drugs, has been ongoing for years. Al Momani announced that Jordan and Syria intend to establish a joint committee to address the consequences of the operation, strengthen coordination against Daesh, and protect civilians. He reiterated that "Jordan’s security and Syria’s security are one," underscoring that countering terrorism remains a shared objective for both nations.
