Jordan launches airstrikes in Syria after church attack

Jordan carried out airstrikes Monday evening against armed groups in Syria in retaliation for Friday’s attack on a Greek Orthodox Church in the southern Jordanian city of Karak that killed nine people, the Jordanian air force said in a statement. Syrian authorities said at least six people were killed.

Syrian officials said five people were killed in the Jordanian strike on a village in the southern Daraa province. Jordan has struck what its military says were "terrorist organisations" in Syria in retaliation for an attack on a Christian funeral last week that killed nine people.

Syrian health officials told state media five people, including women, children and an elderly man, were killed in the strike on a village in the southern Daraa province. Jordan said its fighter jets had killed and wounded "several terrorists", without giving further details.

Jordan said it had co-ordinated with the Syrian government. Syria said it had not been notified of Monday’s attack. It comes after a nine people were killed and 34 injured in a shooting at a funeral in a Greek Orthodox church in Karak on Friday.

In response to the strike, Syria said it had closed a border crossing with Jordan. "The decision includes the complete suspension of passenger and commercial traffic in both directions, to ensure the safety of travellers and workers at the crossing," Syrian authorities said in a statement carried by state media.

Earlier on Monday, senior government security officials said Jordanian security forces had arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law over the church attack. The Public Security Directorate (PSD) said the unnamed "terrorists" were found hiding in an abandoned house in Karak before dawn.