Jordan Airstrikes Kill 20+ Militants in Syria After Deadly Church Attack

Jordan says its air force killed more than 20 Islamic State militants in airstrikes on southern Syria on Monday evening, in retaliation for a deadly church attack in Jordan last week that killed nine people. Jordanian officials said the suspects behind the church attack were linked to militant groups operating across the border in Syria, and that the strikes hit militant hideouts there.
The operation has sparked a diplomatic row. Syria said the strikes killed seven people, including three children and a woman, and condemned them as a violation of its sovereignty, saying they were carried out without prior coordination. Jordan's military said the strikes were coordinated with Damascus, while Jordan's government minister Mohammed al-Momani expressed regret over the civilian casualties. Jordanian security forces separately arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law after a shootout linked to the church attack.
No group has claimed responsibility for the church assault, although Jordan says the militants targeted in Syria were Islamic State members. Despite the dispute over coordination, Syria's foreign ministry said Damascus is working with Amman and will set up a joint security committee to strengthen border security and prevent similar incidents. The episode underlines how fragile border security remains in the region, even as both neighbours say they want to cooperate.
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