Syria condemns Jordanian airstrikes in south following deadly church attack

Syria has issued a strong condemnation of Jordanian military strikes carried out on its southern territory, describing the actions as an unacceptable breach of its airspace and national sovereignty. The diplomatic friction represents the most severe crisis between the two neighbouring countries since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Jordanian officials stated that the air raids were a retaliatory measure against militant groups linked to a deadly attack on a church in Jordan the previous week.

The Jordanian air force conducted the strikes on Monday evening, targeting locations in southeastern Syria. According to Jordanian government communications, the operation was designed to destroy positions held by terrorist organisations and resulted in the death of more than 20 fighters associated with the Islamic State. Jordanian authorities also claimed that a large weapons depot belonging to the group was destroyed during the operation. The strikes followed an announcement earlier that same day that three men had been arrested in Jordan in connection with the church attack.

Background

The military action was a direct response to a gun attack that occurred last week during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, located in Karak governorate in southern Jordan. The attack killed nine people and wounded others, with casualty figures varying slightly across reports, with some sources citing 25 injured and others noting 40. Jordanian security forces identified the perpetrators as being linked to militant groups operating across the border in Syria.

While Jordan insisted that it had coordinated the airstrikes with the Syrian government, Damascus rejected this claim. Syria’s foreign ministry stated that the strikes were carried out without any prior coordination, characterising the event as a blatant violation of the principles of good-neighbourliness. The discrepancy in official accounts has heightened tensions, with both nations providing differing tolls for the incident. Syria’s civil defence agency reported that the strikes killed seven people, including three children and a woman, while health officials in Daraa province initially reported six deaths. Jordan’s government spokesman, Mohammad al-Momani, expressed regret for the civilian casualties, stating that Jordan had taken care to avoid targeting locations where civilians were believed to be present.

Why it matters

This incident marks a significant escalation in relations between Jordan and Syria, which have historically maintained a cautious diplomatic stance. The crisis highlights the ongoing security challenges posed by cross-border militant activity, particularly groups linked to the Islamic State, which continue to operate in the region despite the change in Syrian leadership. The differing casualty figures and the dispute over coordination underscore the lack of trust between the two governments. For regional stability, the resolution of this dispute is critical, as it involves questions of national sovereignty and the management of shared security threats. The Jordanian government has emphasised its respect for the Syrian state, seeking to de-escalate the situation while maintaining its stance on the necessity of the military response to the church attack.

What happens next

Syria has stated that it has launched an investigation into the Jordanian attacks. Both countries are currently engaged in diplomatic exchanges, with Jordan expressing regret for civilian losses and Syria demanding accountability for the airspace violation. No further military actions have been announced, but the situation remains tense as both sides assess the diplomatic and security implications of the strikes.