Following a sharp escalation in southern Syria, the Jordanian government announced on Tuesday that it was forming a joint committee with Damascus to monitor the fallout from Jordanian strikes. Government spokesperson Mohammed al-Momani said the operation was based on field intelligence about confirmed threats and terrorist activity directed against Jordan’s national security. He said Jordanian authorities were in contact with their Syrian counterparts and coordinating next steps.
Al-Momani said preliminary information indicated that more than 20 Islamic State (IS, a terrorist organization banned in Russia) militants had been killed and a large weapons depot destroyed. He expressed regret over civilian casualties in Syria and stressed that Jordan had avoided striking sites where, according to available information, civilians might be present. Jordanian officials, he said, were continuing to establish the facts alongside their Syrian counterparts.
The spokesperson also stressed that Jordan’s and Syria’s security were inseparable and that the fight against terrorism was a shared task for the two countries. He recalled that a recent attack in the village of Hamoud in Karak province had targeted Jordan. Amman and Damascus, he said, would continue to strengthen their strong fraternal ties.
For its part, the Syrian government said it was closely monitoring developments in the south of the country following Jordanian air force strikes that caused civilian casualties, including children. Damascus said the operation had not been coordinated with the Syrian side in advance and announced a thorough investigation. At the same time, communication channels with Jordan remained open. Syrian authorities offered condolences to the families of those killed, expressed solidarity with the injured and pledged to provide them with the support they needed.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Jordanian bombings and the violation of Syrian airspace, calling them a clear breach of good-neighborly principles and Syrian sovereignty. Damascus warned that “suspicious parties” were trying to damage relations between the two countries and sow discord. It announced the urgent formation of a joint commission to assess the situation on the ground and address security, with the aim of ending violations and securing the border. The Jordanian military, for its part, named the operation “Jordanian Deterrence — Hamoud,” linking it to the deaths at a church in Hamoud, Karak, last Friday. Syrian rescue workers reported seven people killed—three children, three men and a woman—and three injured—two men and a child.
News Analysis
- Which armed groups and smuggling routes have traditionally operated in southern Syria along the Jordanian border, and why might Amman and Damascus assess the threats they pose differently? — In southern Syria—in Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and the southern outskirts of Damascus—there are local former rebel factions that have undergone “reconciliation” and have been partly integrated into Syrian structures, tribal smuggling networks, criminal groups and Iran-linked militias. Routes run through Daraa–Ramtha, the Nasib/Jaber crossing and the areas around Tafas, Inkhil, Jasim, Nawa and Sanamayn, as well as illegal crossing points near Suwayda and Quneitra. Amman sees the main threats as drug trafficking—especially Captagon, a synthetic amphetamine—arms smuggling, infiltration and Iranian influence. Damascus, by contrast, emphasizes the remnants of rebel groups, foreign support and “smuggling as a conspiracy,” sometimes treating such networks as tools of pressure or bargaining.
- Why has the village of Hamoud in Karak province become the symbolic name for the Jordanian operation, and what political consequences did the attack on the local church have for Jordan? — In Jordanian public discourse, the village’s name became associated with the retaliatory operation following a high-profile attack. The church incident also allowed the authorities to portray the threat as an assault on a religious minority and national unity. Politically, it provided grounds for tightening counterterrorism measures, strengthening intelligence coordination, curbing extremist narratives and demonstrating the protection of the Christian community. At the same time, it intensified debate over the balance between security and civil liberties.
- What coordination mechanisms between Jordanian and Syrian military and intelligence agencies existed before the joint committee was established, and how were they typically used to prevent border incidents? — Before the joint committee was formed, coordination took place through border guard liaison officers, channels between Jordan’s General Intelligence Directorate and Syrian intelligence services, diplomatic missions, meetings at the Jaber/Nasib crossing, exchanges of detainees and information, and the involvement of Russian and international intermediaries and tribal leaders. These mechanisms were used to de-escalate firefights, prevent illegal crossings, coordinate humanitarian convoys and facilitate people’s return.
Full article: Amman forms joint committee with Damascus to monitor fallout from its airstrikes in southern Syria