Jordan strikes armed groups in Syria it says tied to church attack; Damascus: Civilians killed

Jordan launched airstrikes in Syria against armed groups linked to Friday's church attack in Karak that killed nine people. Syria reported seven civilians killed in the strikes. Jordan arrested three brothers for the church attack, describing them as takfiri but not tied to an organized group. Syria closed its main border crossing with Jordan.

Jordan carried out airstrikes in Syria on Monday night against armed groups it said were tied to Friday's attack on a Greek Orthodox Church in Karak that killed nine people. The Jordanian air force said the operation killed and wounded many members of terrorist groups and destroyed vehicles, but did not name the groups or specify the strike locations. Syria's civil defense agency said it recovered seven bodies from strikes in Daraa and Sweida provinces, including five members of one family. The Syrian government said the operation was without prior coordination and opened communication channels with Jordan. Syria later closed its main border crossing with Jordan. Earlier Monday, Jordan arrested three brothers for the church attack: Hazzah Zaidan Mohammad, Mishal Zaidan Mohammad, and their brother-in-law Ahmad Sami Hussein. The police chief described them as takfiri but not tied to any organized group. The interior minister said the attack resulted from a terroristic, extremist way of thinking. King Abdullah II ordered an iron fist response against outlaws of Islam. Relatives of the victims expressed relief at the arrests but said the pain remains.