Jordanian Airstrikes Hit Southern Syria Following Deadly Church Shooting
Jordanian military jets carried out airstrikes in southern Syria targeting militant hideouts allegedly tied to a deadly church shooting that killed nine people in the town of Hamoud, according to reporting in de Volkskrant. The strikes hit areas in the provinces of Daraa and Sweida, leaving eight people dead—including women and children—according to the Syrian state news agency Sana. The Syrian civil protection agency reported seven deaths, including three children and a woman, while noting that the military operation was conducted without prior coordination with Damascus. In contrast, the Jordanian military maintained that the cross-border operation was coordinated with Syrian authorities.
Arrests Made in Karak Following Funeral Attack
Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects early Monday following a shootout in a vacant house in Karak where the men had hoarded weapons and ammunition. The suspects—two brothers and their brother-in-law—sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire and were taken into custody. According to the Jordanian Ministry of the Interior, the men adhere to an extremist version of Islam, though authorities stated there are currently no indications they maintained contact with outside terror cells. The arrests follow an attack last Friday when armed men opened fire on a congregation inside a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral service, wounding roughly 40 people alongside the nine fatalities. King Abdullah II condemned the violence as a terrorist act and vowed the strictest possible retaliation, while NOS reported that the suspects’ exact identities have not yet been publicly released by authorities.
Syrian Border Crossing Closed as Regional Tensions Rise
In response to the military actions in the south, Syrian authorities closed the Nassib border crossing with Jordan to both passenger and freight traffic. The closure compounds broader regional disruptions linked to ongoing conflicts across the Middle East. Citing security concerns, KLM announced it will suspend all flights from Amsterdam to Dubai through March 27, while flights to Riyadh and Dammam remain canceled through November 27. The airline previously grounded the routes following military escalations involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Crisis
Which specific militant groups are suspected of involvement in the church shooting?
Jordanian authorities stated that the three arrested suspects—two brothers and their brother-in-law—adhere to an extremist version of Islam, but the interior ministry confirmed that no group has formally claimed responsibility for the attack and no outside terror cell connections have been identified.
What is the status of commercial air travel to the region?
KLM extended its flight suspensions from Amsterdam to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam through late November and March, respectively, citing persistent security risks stemming from regional conflicts involving Iran, Yemen’s Houthi movement, and Gulf infrastructure targets.
Related reading