Amman defends cross-border strikes in southern Syria as Damascus closes key trade artery Jordan's government today defended its cross-border airstrikes in southern Syria, claiming the operations killed more than 20 ISIS fighters and destroyed a large weapons cache. Government spokesman Muhammad al-Momani stated that Amman carried out the bombing after it ran out of patience with terrorist groups operating near its border. The military response followed the deadly church attack in the Jordanian village of Hamud near Karak, where gunmen opened fire at a Christian funeral, killing nine people and wounding 25 others. Momani added that while Jordanian forces tried to avoid civilian areas, Amman regrets collateral losses. The border attacks provoked a serious diplomatic conflict and led to the closure of the strategic Nasib border crossing between Jordan and Syria. Syrian health officials and local civil defense units reported that the Jordanian strikes killed at least seven civilians, including women and children, across the rural areas of Daraa and Sweida. Damascus condemned the attacks as an unprovoked violation of Syrian sovereignty and immediately halted all passenger and cargo traffic through the main trade artery connecting the two countries.

Amman defends cross-border strikes in southern Syria as Damascus closes key trade artery Jordan's government today defended its cross-border airstrikes in southern Syria, claiming the operations killed more than 20 ISIS fighters and destroyed a large weapons cache. Government spokesman Muhammad al-Momani stated that Amman carried out the bombing after it ran out of patience with terrorist groups operating near its border. The military response followed the deadly church attack in the Jordanian village of Hamud near Karak, where gunmen opened fire at a Christian funeral, killing nine people and wounding 25 others. Momani added that while Jordanian forces tried to avoid civilian areas, Amman regrets collateral losses. The border attacks provoked a serious diplomatic conflict and led to the closure of the strategic Nasib border crossing between Jordan and Syria. Syrian health officials and local civil defense units reported that the Jordanian strikes killed at least seven civilians, including women and children, across the rural areas of Daraa and Sweida. Damascus condemned the attacks as an unprovoked violation of Syrian sovereignty and immediately halted all passenger and cargo traffic through the main trade artery connecting the two countries.