Syria Reopens Jordan Border As Joint Probe Begins Into Deadly Airstrikes

Syria reopened its main border crossing with Jordan on Wednesday, October 28, after the two countries agreed to investigate deadly Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria that killed at least seven people, including three children. The reopening of the Nassib border crossing came as the neighbours sought to ease tensions over the strikes and strengthen security coordination.

Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that regular passenger and commercial traffic would resume at the crossing, which had been temporarily closed following Jordan’s military operation on Monday. The crossing, known as Jaber on the Jordanian side, is the principal land route for passengers and commercial goods between the two countries.

The Jordanian airstrikes targeted suspected hideouts of the Islamic State (ISIL or ISIS) armed group in Syria’s southern Deraa and Suwayda provinces. Jordan said the operation was launched in response to a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in the southern Jordanian city of Karak on Friday.

The shooting killed at least nine people and wounded dozens of others. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Al Jazeera. Jordanian security forces subsequently arrested three suspects, including two brothers and their brother-in-law, following a shootout.

Jordanian authorities said the strikes were intended to prevent further attacks and neutralise imminent security threats. Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said preliminary assessments indicated that more than 20 ISIL fighters had been killed and a large weapons depot destroyed. Jordan also maintained that the operation had been coordinated with the Syrian government.

However, Syrian authorities disputed the claim of prior coordination, saying the strikes were carried out without notification to Damascus. Syria condemned the operation as a violation of its sovereignty and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attacks.

Syria’s Civil Defence service reported that at least seven people were killed across the two provinces. Five members of one family, including three children and a woman, died when a strike hit a tent in rural Deraa. Two older men were also killed in separate strikes, while other family members were injured.

The civilian deaths prompted concerns over the consequences of the military operation, particularly as the two countries had been working to improve relations following the ousting of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

In a diplomatic effort to contain the fallout, Jordan and Syria agreed to establish a joint security committee following a telephone conversation between their foreign ministers, Ayman Safadi and Asaad al-Shaibani, late on Tuesday.

The committee will examine the details and consequences of the airstrikes and develop mechanisms for intelligence sharing and coordination on the ground. Both sides said their cooperation would focus on addressing security threats while protecting civilians and respecting Syrian sovereignty.

Safadi expressed deep regret over the civilian deaths and offered condolences to the Syrian people. He also reaffirmed Jordan’s respect for Syria’s sovereignty and security, while maintaining that the strikes were based on intelligence indicating confirmed threats against Jordan.