Jordanian Jets Kill Five in Syria in Strike Over Karak Church Attack

The Jordanian military launched a retaliatory air strike against southern Syria on Monday, killing five people in response to a deadly shooting at a Christian funeral in Karak last Friday.

Syrian health officials reported that the attack targeted a village in Daraa province. Five residents died, including women, children, and an elderly man. Jordanian fighter jets reportedly killed and wounded several members of what the military described as terrorist organizations.

The strike followed the arrest of three Jordanian nationals earlier on Monday. Senior security officials said the suspects, two brothers and their brother-in-law, were found hiding in an abandoned house in Karak before dawn. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated television that the attackers had been holed up in a building near the attack site.

The incident in Karak occurred on Friday when gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church funeral. Nine people were killed and 34 were injured in the shooting.

Jordan stated it had coordinated the airstrike with the Syrian government. Syria disputed this claim, saying it had not received prior notification of the Monday attack.

In response to the strike, Syrian authorities closed the Nassib border crossing, the only passenger and commercial link between the two countries. A statement from Syrian authorities announced the complete suspension of traffic in both directions to ensure safety. The government also said it had opened direct communication channels with Jordan and launched comprehensive investigations into the circumstances of the targeting.