Jordan launches airstrikes in Syria in retaliation for deadly church attack

Jordan’s air force carried out strikes against militant groups in southern Syria linked to a deadly attack on a church in the Jordanian city of Karak, destroying several positions and killing or wounding a number of militants, the Jordanian military said Monday.

The military said the operation, named “Jordanian Deterrence – Hamoud,” targeted hideouts belonging to what it described as terrorist organizations connected to Friday’s attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, in Karak governorate.

Jordanian fighter jets destroyed several sites and military vehicles belonging to the groups, the military said, adding that the strikes were carried out in retaliation for the victims of the church attack.

The military did not identify the organizations targeted or provide specific casualty figures.

The airstrikes followed Friday’s shooting at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, where gunmen opened fire on mourners attending a funeral, killing nine people and wounding dozens.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II condemned the shooting and vowed to respond with an “iron fist,” ordering security agencies to pursue those responsible and intensify efforts to combat extremism.

Earlier Monday, Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects in connection with the attack following a shootout at an abandoned house in Karak governorate.

ℹ️ Content Notice: This text is an English translation and factual adaptation of news events, edited for clarity, neutrality and objective reporting.
Source of information: Global News Agencies including REUTERS / TASS / AFP / ANADOLU / INT.RU / Al Jazeera / CNN