Jordanian Jets Kill Five in Syrian Village Over Church Funeral Attack

Five people, including women, children, and an elderly man, died in a Jordanian air strike on a village in Syria's Daraa province on Monday. Syrian health officials confirmed the casualties to state media. Jordanian military officials stated that fighter jets targeted terrorist organizations in retaliation for a shooting at a Christian funeral last week.

The retaliatory strike followed an attack on Friday that killed nine people and injured 34 others at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak. Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects earlier on Monday. The Public Security Directorate identified the men as two brothers and their brother-in-law. Authorities found the trio hiding in an abandoned house in Karak before dawn.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated television that all three attackers were Jordanians. He said they had been hiding in a building in a village near the church. The ministry described the suspects as terrorists without releasing their names.

Syria responded to the airstrike by closing the Nassib border crossing. This is the only passenger and commercial border point between the two countries. Syrian authorities announced the complete suspension of traffic in both directions to protect travelers and workers. Officials stated that they had opened direct communication channels with Jordan and launched investigations into the targeting.

The two governments issued conflicting accounts of the coordination. Jordan said it had coordinated the strike with the Syrian government. Syria said it had not been notified of the attack before it happened.