Border guards engage infiltrating group
Jordanian border guards intercepted an attempt by 14 armed individuals to cross into the country's northern territory from Syria, according to a statement issued by the armed forces on Saturday. The group made its move on Friday, the army said, and the encounter took place under heavy fire and direct engagement.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
The armed forces reported that the exchange produced numerous casualties among the infiltrators, while those who survived turned back and crossed into Syria. The statement did not identify the fighters or say to which group, if any, they belonged.[S1]
Strikes in southern Syria and a church attack
The border incident comes after Jordan announced last week that its air force had struck Daesh positions in southern Syria, a campaign the kingdom described as retaliation for an attack on a church at home that killed nine people. Jordan said more than 20 militants died in those raids.[S1]
Damascus rejected the strikes. Syria's Foreign Ministry called them an unacceptable violation and a breach of Syrian airspace carried out without any prior coordination, and it voiced its condemnation and rejection in the strongest terms.[S1]
Amman has said that suspects tied to the church attack were connected to terrorist groups active in southern Syria, a link that underpins its decision to strike across the border.[S1]
