Syria urges civilian protection after deadly Jordanian airstrikes

• Damascus says it is coordinating directly with Jordan to establish joint field, security committee to prevent further violations

Updated 10 min 7 sec ago

October 27, 2026 22:22

LONDON: Syria’s Interior Ministry reported on Tuesday that it was collaborating with relevant authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding Jordanian airstrikes in Daraa province, emphasizing that border securitization efforts must not compromise civilian safety.

The strikes, carried out on Monday evening, resulted in the deaths of seven civilians—including three children—and left several others injured, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour Al-Din Al-Baba issued a statement via X affirming that protecting civilians remains a top priority as the ministry continues its counter‑terrorism, anti‑drug trafficking, and cross‑border crime operations.

“Coordination between the two countries remains the most effective approach to addressing border challenges while safeguarding innocent lives,” Al‑Baba said.

Al‑Baba also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished the wounded a swift recovery. These remarks followed a Syrian foreign ministry condemnation of the strikes, which asserted the operation violated Syrian sovereignty and was incompatible with the bilateral cooperation framework.

Damascus announced that it was directly engaging Jordan to convene a joint field and security committee aimed at preventing further violations, protecting lives, and reinforcing border security.

In a separate development, Jordan’s military claimed on Monday that it had targeted sites linked to “terrorist organizations” in southern Syria, which it associated with a devastating attack on Friday targeting mourners at the Hamoud Church in Jordan’s southern Karak province that left nine people dead.

While diplomatic channels remained open, Syria closed its Nasib border crossing with Jordan on Tuesday, suspending passenger and commercial traffic in both directions. The General Authority for Ports and Customs stated the decision was made based on “current conditions and developments on the ground” in Daraa to ensure the safety of travelers and crossing staff.

The airstrikes occurred after Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects in the church attack following a confrontational shootout in Karak earlier Monday. All three detainees were wounded, though no security personnel were injured, according to Jordan’s Public Security Directorate.

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