Jordanian jets strike Daraa village after Karak church shooting

Five people, including women, children, and an elderly man, were killed on Monday when Jordanian fighter jets struck a village in Syria's southern Daraa province. Syrian health officials reported the casualties to state media. Jordan's military described the targets as 'terrorist organisations' and said it killed and wounded 'several terrorists' without providing specific numbers.

The strike was a direct response to an attack at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, on Friday. During a Christian funeral, gunmen opened fire, killing nine people and injuring 34 others.

Jordan stated it co-ordinated the air raid with the Syrian government. Syria disputed this, claiming it had not received notification of the attack before it began.

In reaction to the bombing, Syrian authorities closed the Nassib border crossing, the only passenger and commercial link between the two countries. A statement from Syrian officials said the suspension of passenger and commercial traffic in both directions was necessary to ensure the safety of travelers and workers.

Syria said it opened direct communication channels with Jordan and launched comprehensive investigations to determine the full circumstances of the targeting. Earlier on Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested three men in connection with the church attack: two brothers and their brother-in-law.

The Public Security Directorate said the men were found hiding in an abandoned house in Karak before dawn. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated TV that all three attackers were Jordanians and had been holed up in a building in a village near the attack site.