Jordan Says Airstrikes in Syria Killed Over 20 Islamic State Militants After Church Attack

Amman, Jordan. Jordan announced on Tuesday that air raids carried out the previous evening in southern Syria had killed more than 20 Islamic State militants, a response to a deadly attack on a church in Jordan that officials tied to militants based across the border. Syria put the death toll from the strikes at seven, among them three children and a woman.

Civilian casualties and Jordan’s justification

Government Communication Minister Mohammed al-Momani wrote on X that Jordan regretted the civilian deaths. On Monday, Jordan had said its air force hit what it called militant hideouts in southern Syria, after concluding that the suspects in last week’s church attack had links to “terrorist groups” operating there.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault, which killed nine people. Jordan nonetheless said the militants hit in Syria belonged to Islamic State.

Arrests in Jordan

Separately, Jordanian security officials said forces had detained two brothers and their brother-in-law after a shootout connected to the church attack.

Syria’s reaction

The strikes provoked anger in Syria. The Jordanian military described the operation as coordinated with Damascus, but the Syrian government said no prior coordination had taken place and announced an investigation.

Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. It added, however, that Damascus was working with Amman and would set up a joint security committee to reinforce border security and prevent a repeat of such incidents.

Questions over the rationale

Recent statements by Jordanian authorities that the church attack had not been planned in advance have added to the confusion. They appear to conflict with the reasoning Jordan gave for the cross-border strikes.