Beirut, Oct 27. (dpa/GNA) – Jordan has carried out airstrikes against targets in southern Syria, in retaliation for a deadly attack on a church in Jordan, the Jordanian military said.
The airstrikes on hideouts belonging to suspected militant groups in the neighbouring country, took place on Monday evening, in response to Friday’s attack on a church in Jordan’s Karak governorate. The suspected perpetrators had links to the groups targeted, the military said.
Jordan’s government spokesman, Mohammad al-Momani, said positions held by Islamic State had been targeted, with initial estimates suggesting around 20 members of the terrorist militia were killed.
Al-Momani also said a large weapons depot had been destroyed. It has not yet been possible to obtain independent confirmation of these details.
Jordan said the strikes had been carried out, in coordination with the Syrian government. Damascus denied this, with state news agency SANA quoting, the government as saying the operation had not been agreed in advance.
Syria said it was in contact with Jordan to discuss the situation.
At least eight people were killed in the strikes, including an elderly man and three children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Four others were injured, the UK-based monitoring group said, adding that the death toll could rise.
The strikes hit several locations in the provinces of Daraa and Sweida.
The deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak governorate, took place during a memorial service on Friday.
Jordanian authorities said the suspected attackers had links to militant groups in southern Syria.
GNA