Jordan strikes inside Syria after nine die at village church funeral

Jordan has struck targets in southern Syria in answer to a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church that killed nine people. The attack happened on Friday, October 23, at the Church of Saint George in Hammoud, a village in Karak governorate. Mourners had come together for the funeral of a woman. At least 34 people were wounded.

On Monday, Jordanian security forces cornered three suspects in an abandoned house. Gunfire was exchanged, and all three men were wounded and taken into custody. Officials say they are two brothers and their brother-in-law, and allege ties to militant groups across the border. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said the investigation goes on.

The airstrikes followed. Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said more than 20 Islamic State fighters died. Syria reports seven dead, among them three children and a woman. Al-Momani voiced regret for the civilian deaths.

The two governments disagree on how the operation was handled. Amman says it coordinated with Damascus. Syria says it received no warning, has opened its own inquiry, and calls the strikes a violation of its sovereignty. Even so, Syria has agreed to join a security committee with Jordan aimed at tightening the border.

King Abdullah II reached the hospital within hours of the shooting to see the wounded and comfort families. Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem later visited survivors at the Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein Military Hospital and the Italian Hospital, with Metropolitan Isychios and several priests. In a statement he said the killings would not break unity between Christians and Muslims. He also rejected any aim of pushing Christians out: "we shall not be driven to leave our land," he said, according to Christian Today.

Muslim leaders joined the condemnation. Jordan's chief Islamic justice office, its fatwa department and the Ministry of Awqaf all denounced the killings, as did the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. Pope Leo XIV offered condolences at the Sunday Angelus and described Jordan as a country of coexistence and respect among religions. Vatican News carried a reflection by Father Rifat Bader of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan. He wrote that Christians and Muslims gathered in the church courtyard that Sunday to bury the dead, and he called for a long effort in education to keep extremism from taking root.

Church and government in Jordan are also planning for 2030, the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus (YHWShA), which they hope will draw pilgrims to the country again.

Compiled from the reports below. Read the originals.