Syrian officials reported seven civilians killed in Jordanian strikes in the Daraa countryside, while conflicting accounts from Amman and Damascus over prior coordination sharpened a cross-border security dispute.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said in an Oct. 27 update, citing Daraa Health Director Khaled al-Amyan, that the dead included three children, a woman and three men. Its initial bulletin had reported five deaths and two injuries. The revised toll follows an earlier EconoTimes report on the five deaths.
The injury count is disputed. SANA’s latest tally was three, while Anadolu Agency separately reported four, citing Daraa’s Health Directorate.
Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad Momani said Jordan’s preliminary assessment attributed more than 20 Islamic State (IS) deaths and the destruction of a major weapons depot to the strikes. He also expressed regret over civilian casualties.
The Jordan Armed Forces said it conducted the operation in coordination with the Syrian government. Syrian authorities said they received no advance coordination or notice, had opened an investigation and were in contact with Jordan. Momani said the two countries planned to establish a joint committee to review the strikes.
Jordan framed the Oct. 26 operation as a response to the Oct. 23 shooting at a church funeral in Hmoud, in Karak Governorate. Jordanian military officials said suspects in the attack had ties to groups targeted in Syria. Jordanian authorities said the attack killed nine people and injured 34; Petra reported that three suspects were arrested Oct. 26 and the investigation was continuing.
A joint Jordanian-Syrian statement issued Oct. 22 had scheduled a Higher Coordination Council session in Damascus for Nov. 8–9, before the strikes.
