Jordan and Syria form security committee after deadly airstrikes

Jordan and Syria agreed to establish a joint security committee after Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria killed civilians and sparked conflicting accounts over whether Damascus had approved the operation.

Jordan said its air force struck Islamic State hideouts and a weapons depot on Monday in retaliation for an attack at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in southern Jordan that killed nine people. Amman said suspects in the church attack were linked to militants operating across the border and claimed the strikes killed more than 20 Islamic State members.

Syrian authorities said at least seven people were killed in the Daraa and Sweida provinces, including three children and a woman. Jordanian Communications Minister Mohammed al-Momani acknowledged civilian deaths and expressed regret, while saying the operation was based on intelligence about confirmed threats and that some sites were not targeted because civilians were present.

The countries also disputed whether the strikes had been coordinated. Jordan’s military said the operation was conducted in coordination with Damascus, but Syria’s Foreign Ministry said there had been no prior coordination and condemned the strikes as an unacceptable violation of Syrian airspace.

After talks between Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, both governments said the new committee would examine the strikes and their repercussions. They also pledged closer cooperation against terrorism and cross-border weapons and drug smuggling. Syria said passenger and commercial traffic through the Nassib border crossing would resume Wednesday after a brief closure.