Jordan Airstrikes Syria: Nassib Border Reopens Aft
Last updated 2026-10-28 04:00 UTC. Built from Al Jazeera (03:10 UTC), Arab News/Reuters, SANA, Long War Journal, Al Jazeera (26 October), US News/AP.
What happened
Gunmen opened fire on mourners at St George's Greek Orthodox Church in Karak, Jordan, on 23 October 2026, killing nine people and wounding 34. Islamic State claimed responsibility. Jordan launched air strikes on ISIS sites in southern Syria on 26 October in response, in an operation named Jordanian Deterrence-Hamoud. The Royal Jordanian Air Force struck four sites in Deraa and Suwayda provinces, killing at least seven people, including three children, five of whom were from the same family. Syria closed the Nassib crossing, its only passenger and commercial border crossing with Jordan, on 27 October. On 28 October, Syria announced the crossing would reopen, and the foreign ministers of both countries agreed to form a joint security committee.
9People killed in the Karak church attack on 23 October 2026
7Civilians killed in Jordanian air strikes on southern Syria on 26 October 2026
Karak church attack
23 October 2026, Karak Governorate, Jordan
Jordan air strikes on Syria
26 October 2026 (Operation Jordanian Deterrence-Hamoud)
Syria closes Nassib crossing
27 October 2026
Nassib crossing reopens
28 October 2026 (Wednesday morning local time)
Church attack: people killed
9
Church attack: people wounded
34
Syria strike deaths (including children)
7 (Jordan claimed 20+ ISIS killed)
Suspects arrested for church attack
3 (two brothers and a brother-in-law)
Strike sites hit in Syria
4 (Deraa and Suwayda provinces)
Joint security committee
Agreed 27-28 October 2026 by foreign ministers
The church attack
Three gunmen attacked mourners at St George's Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hmoud near Karak, about 90 kilometres south of Amman, on 23 October 2026. The attack targeted a funeral gathering. Jordanian security forces pursued the suspects and arrested all three on 26 October after a three-hour armed stand-off at a hideout in the village of Al-Jadeeda, also in Karak Governorate. The three men, identified as Hazaa Zidan Thneibat, Mashaal Zidan Thneibat, and Ahmad Sami Thneibat, are Jordanian nationals and are related to each other. The Karak attack was described as the deadliest against Jordan's Christian community in the country's modern history.
The air strikes and the dispute over coordination
Hours after arresting the church attack suspects, the Royal Jordanian Air Force struck what it described as ISIS hideouts in the Deraa countryside in southern Syria. Jordan's government said preliminary estimates showed more than 20 ISIS members killed and a large weapons depot destroyed. Syria's Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management confirmed its teams attended four strike sites. Syrian authorities reported seven civilian deaths including three children and a woman; five of the dead were from the same family, killed when their tent was struck in the village of Al-Tai in Deraa. Jordan's Armed Forces stated the operation was conducted in coordination with the Syrian government. Damascus denied any prior coordination and called the strikes an attack without notification.
"The strikes were based on field intelligence and aimed at neutralising confirmed threats and imminent terrorist operations targeting Jordan's security.
"Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi
"The attacks went ahead without prior coordination or notification.
"Syrian Foreign Ministry statement
Nassib crossing and the joint committee
Syria suspended all passenger and commercial traffic at the Nassib crossing on 27 October. The crossing, also called the Jaber crossing, is Jordan's only open border with Syria and is a major route for Syrian exports to Jordan and Gulf countries. Syria announced on 28 October that the crossing would reopen to regular traffic. During a phone call, Safadi expressed deep regret over civilian deaths and offered condolences to their families. Both foreign ministers agreed to form a joint security committee to examine the circumstances of the strikes, strengthen intelligence coordination against terrorism, and ensure civilian protection in future operations.
What to watch next
- Joint security committee first meeting: timeline and format not yet confirmed.
- Syrian investigation into civilian deaths and who bears legal responsibility.
- Whether Jordan and Syria agree on a protocol for future cross-border counter-terrorism operations.
- Ongoing Jordanian court process for the three church attack suspects.
- Regional reaction: US, Arab League and Gulf states have not yet issued formal positions on the strikes.
How we know this. Border reopening and joint committee: Al Jazeera (03:10 UTC 28 October 2026), Arab News/Reuters (27-28 October 2026), SANA state news agency. Strike details and civilian casualties: Al Jazeera (26 October 2026), US News/AP, The Hill/AP. Church attack and suspects: Long War Journal (26-27 October 2026), Al Jazeera, US News. Coordination dispute: Al Jazeera, Arab News, Internazionale/Reuters. Cover image: Amman and highways, Jordan, photographed from the International Space Stati
