Jordan and Syria agreed on Wednesday to establish a joint security committee. The body will investigate recent Jordanian airstrikes against Daesh that left seven civilians dead in southern Syria, according to a joint statement from the two foreign ministries.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi spoke with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani by phone. Safadi told him the strikes targeted Daesh sites using field intelligence to neutralise imminent threats to Jordan.
Safadi expressed regret over the civilian deaths and offered condolences to the families. The military action followed a deadly attack on a church in Karak last week, Amman said.
The joint committee will examine the circumstances of the operation. It will also strengthen intelligence and security coordination to combat terrorism and protect civilians. Safadi stressed that Jordan is committed to protecting Syrian lives and respecting the country’s sovereignty.
Syrian Civil Defense reported that seven civilians died in the Jordanian strikes across Daraa and Sweida provinces on Monday. The dead included three children and a woman, with five belonging to the same family. Damascus condemned the raids as a violation of sovereignty because they occurred without prior coordination.
Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani said on Tuesday that preliminary assessments indicated more than 20 Daesh militants died in the raids, and a large weapons depot was destroyed. Momani stated that Jordan took precautions to avoid civilian casualties and is working with Syrian authorities to investigate the deaths.
Safadi and Al-Shaibani committed to preserving bilateral relations and resolving disputes through dialogue. Both ministers reiterated their cooperation against shared threats, including terrorism and cross-border drug and weapons smuggling.
Safadi reaffirmed that Jordan considers Syria’s security an integral part of its own national security. The ministers emphasised protecting civilians and preventing further border incidents.
The airstrikes followed an attack on Friday at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church. Gunmen opened fire on mourners at a funeral in Hamoud, a village in Jordan’s southern Karak governorate, killing nine people and injuring at least 40.
Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on Monday after a shootout in Karak. The suspects are two brothers and their brother-in-law, all wounded during the operation. No group has claimed formal responsibility for the church attack, though Jordanian authorities linked the perpetrators to cross-border militants.
The diplomatic dispute over Monday’s airstrikes prompted Syrian authorities to temporarily close the Nassib border crossing with Jordan. The crossing is a vital trade and travel route between the two countries.
