Jordan bombs Syrian border in retaliation, killing at least 7 and injuring 3

The Syrian Civil Defense Organization pointed out that Jordanian air strikes on the border provinces killed seven people and injured three others. (AFP)

Jordan announced on the 26th that it had dispatched its air force to bomb the hideouts of militants in southern Syria. These militants are believed to be related to the suspects in the shootings in Jordan last week.

A shooting occurred in Hamoud village, about 75 kilometers southwest of the Jordanian capital Amman, last Friday. Three gunmen opened fire on an Orthodox church, killing nine people and injuring 34 others. The suspect was later arrested by Jordanian security forces.

"Reuters" reported that the Syrian Civil Defense stated in a preliminary report that Jordanian air strikes in Daraa and Sweida provinces killed seven people and injured three others. The dead included three children and one woman. Emergency service units have gone to four locations hit by air strikes for rescue.

The Jordanian military stated that it had coordinated with the Syrian authorities before launching the air strikes; however, the Syrian government stated that it had launched an investigation into Jordan's air strikes, and the Syrian Foreign Ministry even stated that Syria had expressed its "full reservations" regarding Jordan's actions without prior coordination.

The Syrian General Directorate of Border Control and Customs said in a statement that in view of the security situation in Daraa Province, the government has closed the Nassib border crossing with Jordan, and commercial traffic has been temporarily suspended.