Airstrike: Jordanian jets kill five in Syrian village

Jordanian fighter jets struck a village in Syria's southern Daraa province on Monday. The attack followed a shooting at a Christian funeral in Karak, Jordan, last Friday that left nine people dead.

Syrian health officials reported that five people died in the retaliatory strike. The casualties included women, children, and an elderly man. Jordan's military stated that it targeted "terrorist organisations" in the area. The Jordanian side said its jets killed and wounded several terrorists but provided no further details on the number of casualties on the ground.

Disagreement emerged over coordination between the two governments. Jordan claimed it had co-ordinated the strike with the Syrian government. Syrian authorities stated they had not received prior notification of the Monday attack.

In response to the bombing, Syria closed the Nassib border crossing. This is the only passenger and commercial crossing between the two countries. Syrian officials said the suspension covers all passenger and commercial traffic in both directions. They stated the measure aims to ensure the safety of travelers and workers at the site.

Syrian authorities said they opened direct channels of communication with Jordanian officials. They also launched investigations to establish the full circumstances of the targeting.

Earlier on Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested three men in connection with the church shooting. The Public Security Directorate said the suspects were two brothers and their brother-in-law. Officers found the group hiding in an abandoned house in Karak before dawn. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told state-affiliated TV that all three attackers were Jordanians. He said they had been holed up in a building in a village near the attack site.

The initial shooting occurred on Friday at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak. Nine people died and 34 were injured in that incident.