Syrian Government Says Jordanian Airstrikes Killed Seven Civilians in Southern Syria

DAMASCUS (Terror Monitor) — The Syrian government says Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria killed seven civilians, including three children and a woman, while Jordan maintains that its military operation targeted hideouts belonging to terrorist organisations linked to a deadly church attack inside the kingdom.

According to Syria’s state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the strikes on Monday hit several locations in the countryside of Daraa province, killing seven people and injuring three others.

Daraa Health Director Dr. Khaled al-Omian said the dead included three children, one woman and three men. The injured comprised two men and one child, Syrian authorities reported.

The reported civilian casualties have raised concerns in Damascus over the consequences of cross-border military operations and intensified scrutiny of Jordan’s justification for striking targets inside Syrian territory.

Jordan Says Operation Targeted Terrorist Hideouts

Jordan’s armed forces said the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted an operation called “Jordanian Deterrence – Hmoud,” targeting what they described as hideouts belonging to terrorist organisations in southern Syria.

According to the Jordanian military, the operation was launched in retaliation for the deadly attack on Hamoud Church in Jordan’s southern Karak governorate. Amman said individuals suspected of involvement in the church attack had links to organisations operating in southern Syria.

The Jordanian military said its fighter jets destroyed several locations associated with the groups, killing and wounding a number of their members and destroying equipment.

Jordan subsequently reported that the strikes had killed more than 20 Islamic State militants. The government also expressed regret over unintended civilian casualties while maintaining that the operation was directed against security threats.

The Syrian government, however, disputed Jordan’s account of prior coordination, saying it had not been notified before the strikes.

Damascus Raises Concerns Over Syrian Sovereignty

Syrian authorities objected to the airstrikes, saying they had taken place on Syrian territory without prior coordination or notification. Damascus said it had communicated its reservations to Jordanian officials and that contacts were continuing to address the consequences of the operation.

The Syrian government has stressed that security cooperation must respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The reported deaths of civilians, particularly children, have added to concerns about the impact of military operations in populated areas.

Jordan, meanwhile, has defended the strikes as a necessary response to a deadly attack and an effort to disrupt militant networks it considers a threat to its national security.

The differing accounts have highlighted a challenge for the two neighbouring countries: preventing cross-border militant activity while avoiding further tensions over military operations conducted inside Syria.

Church Attack Left Nine Dead in Jordan

The airstrikes followed a deadly attack on Hamoud Church in Karak, where gunmen opened fire during a gathering associated with a funeral on Friday.

The attack killed nine people and injured nearly 40 others, according to reports from Jordan.

Jordanian security forces subsequently arrested three suspects in connection with the attack, while a search continued for a fourth alleged attacker.

Jordanian officials said the suspects were linked to militant networks operating across the border. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the church attack, according to media reports.

The incident prompted Jordan to launch cross-border strikes against locations it said were associated with the groups behind the attack.

Conflicting Accounts of the Airstrikes

The accounts from Damascus and Amman differ on both the consequences of the operation and the circumstances surrounding it.

Syrian authorities reported seven civilian deaths and three injuries in Daraa province. Jordan said its air force had targeted terrorist hideouts and reported that more than 20 Islamic State militants were killed. Jordan also expressed regret over unintended civilian casualties.

The two governments have also given conflicting accounts of whether the operation was coordinated in advance.

The developments underscore the risks of renewed cross-border tensions as Jordan seeks to prevent further attacks and Syria raises concerns about civilian casualties and the conduct of military operations on its territory.

Sources: Terror Monitor, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Jordanian Armed Forces and international media reports.