Syria Condemns Jordanian Airstrikes That Led to Civilian Casualties

Syria has strongly condemned deadly Jordanian airstrikes carried out in the country's south, calling them an unacceptable violation of national sovereignty and airspace. The raids occurred following a church attack in Jordan, marking the worst diplomatic crisis between the two neighbours since the ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The Church Attack and Airstrikes

Jordanian fighter jets targeted sites in southern Syria on Monday, October 26, 2026, as retaliation for a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village within Jordan's Karak governorate. That earlier attack killed nine people and wounded dozens during a funeral service. Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani stated that preliminary results indicated more than 20 Daesh fighters were killed and a large weapons depot was destroyed. However, Syria reported that the strikes killed five people in Daraa province, including a woman and three children, alongside two others killed elsewhere in the south.

Conflicting Claims and Border Closure

While Jordan insisted it coordinated the airstrikes with Damascus, Syria firmly denied receiving any prior notification and rejected the claim. Following the raids, Syria closed its main Nassib border crossing with Jordan, suspending all passenger and commercial traffic in both directions. Meanwhile, Jordanian authorities arrested three suspects accused of the church killings, including two brothers and their brother-in-law, who were found wounded after a shootout.

Context

Border regions between nations often face security challenges when militant groups or smuggling networks operate across porous frontiers. Jordan and Syria share a history of cross-border security concerns, including drug trafficking and militant remnants remaining active in southern Syrian provinces following years of civil conflict.