Jordan launches airstrikes in Syria in retaliation for deadly church attack

Jordan's military launched airstrikes on militant hideouts in southern Syria on Monday, following a deadly church attack the previous week, according to the kingdom. The Jordanian forces claimed the attack on a Greek Orthodox church funeral was connected to terrorist groups present in Syria. The country's armed forces conducted the strikes in coordination with Damascus.

However, Syria reported it had initiated an investigation into the Jordanian strikes. A health official from Syria confirmed that at least five civilians, including women and children, lost their lives due to the Jordanian strikes, as reported by Reuters. Prior to the airstrikes, Jordanian security forces arrested three men linked to the church attack that claimed nine lives and injured 40 others.

The suspects were apprehended after a dawn confrontation with armed individuals hiding in an abandoned house in the Karak governorate, roughly 75 miles southwest of Amman. All three detainees sustained injuries during the operation, while Jordanian security forces reported no casualties. Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya stated that the security services had successfully captured those responsible for the terrorist act, despite the suspects putting up strong resistance.

King Abdullah II of Jordan had previously ordered authorities to respond with an "iron fist" against anyone attempting to disrupt the unity of the Jordanian people.