Jordan Conducts Airstrikes in Southern Syria Following Karak Church Attack, Civilian Casualties Reported

On 26 October 2026, the Royal Jordanian Air Force carried out targeted airstrikes across southern Syria's Daraa province against positions tied to militant networks.

* Retaliatory trigger: The operation follows an armed assault on 23 October in Karak, Jordan, which left nine dead and approximately 40 injured, leading investigators to cross-border networks. * Operational outcome: Jordanian forces neutralized operational sites, vehicles, and an arms depot, while Syrian officials contested coordination protocols and reported seven to ten civilian fatalities. * Border protocols impacted: Following the strikes, authorities shuttered a key border crossing between Jordan and Syria as both sides outlined plans for a joint border security committee.

Watch for bilateral negotiations around the planned joint security committee to determine how rapidly overland transit links stabilize between Amman and Damascus.