Jordan Bombs Alleged Islamic State Bases in Syria in Retaliation for the Karak Church Attack; Damascus Says Civilians Died and Denies Coordination
Amman says the strikes killed at least 20 ISIS fighters. Syria says at least eight people died, including three children, and has closed its main border crossing with Jordan. The two governments dispute each other's accounts.
Jordan struck suspected Islamic State targets in southern Syria on Tuesday, four days after gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox funeral in Karak, Breitbart reports.
Jordan's account. Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said the strikes killed at least 20 ISIS terrorists who were "sure threats" to Jordan's security. "Jordan's patience has run out as far as the movements of these terrorist organisations and their targeting of national security," he said. He said Jordan regretted any civilian victims and that the strikes were coordinated with the Syrian government, without giving details. The Jordanian military said the strikes were "in retaliation for the martyrs of last Friday's Hamoud church attack in Karak" and hit hideouts of terrorists connected to the attackers.
Syria's account. Damascus said at least eight people died, "including an elderly man and three children." Syrian officials denied any coordination, said they lodged a complaint with Jordan and promised a full investigation. The Syrian Foreign Ministry called the strikes "utterly unacceptable" and a "violation of Syrian sovereignty." It also condemned the church attack and suggested outside parties were trying to create "discord" between the two countries. A few hours after the strikes, Syria's ports and customs authority said its main border crossing with Jordan would be closed until further notice.
The church attack. Gunmen opened fire during a funeral service on Friday. Breitbart reports at least seven people were killed and 34 wounded, and calls it the worst slaughter of Christians in Jordan in more than half a century. King Abdullah II promised the "harshest retaliation." Our earlier report on the attack cited a later official toll of nine dead.
The suspects. On Monday, Jordanian troops arrested three men, reportedly Jordanian citizens from one family, after a three-hour gun battle at an empty house in which they sustained heavy wounds. Officials first said there was no evidence of ties to outside groups, and Prime Minister Jafar Hassan blamed "terrorist takfiri ideology." The military said Monday that the bombed sites were tied to the attackers.
Note for readers: the casualty figures and the claim of coordination come from the two governments, and they conflict. We have no independent confirmation of either.