:NOW 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. :INFO 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. :COUNTER 9 People killed in the Karak church attack on 23 October 2026 :COUNTER 7 Civilians killed in Jordanian air strikes on southern Syria on 26 October 2026 :STATS [icon:CLOCK] Karak church attack | 23 October 2026, Karak Governorate, Jordan [icon:CLOCK] Jordan air strikes on Syria | 26 October 2026 (Operation Jordanian Deterrence-Hamoud) [icon:CLOCK] Syria closes Nassib crossing | 27 October 2026 [icon:CLOCK] Nassib crossing reopens | 28 October 2026 (Wednesday morning local time) [icon:USERS] Church attack: people killed | 9 [icon:USERS] Church attack: people wounded | 34 [icon:USERS] Syria strike deaths (including children) | 7 (Jordan claimed 20+ ISIS killed) [icon:USERS] Suspects arrested for church attack | 3 (two brothers and a brother-in-law) [icon:CHART] Strike sites hit in Syria | 4 (Deraa and Suwayda provinces) [icon:CLOCK] Joint security committee | Agreed 27-28 October 2026 by foreign ministers :INFO 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. :INFO 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. :QUOTE [links:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/28/syria-jordan-border-reopens-amid-probe-into-deadly-airstrikes, quotetype:plain, subtitle:Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi] The strikes were based on field intelligence and aimed at neutralising confirmed threats and imminent terrorist operations targeting Jordan's security. :QUOTE [links:https://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/jordan-syria-agree-to-form-joint-security-committee-after-deadly-airstrikes-on-daesh-3008595, quotetype:plain, subtitle:Syrian Foreign Ministry statement] The attacks went ahead without prior coordination or notification. :INFO 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. :MAP 31.1851,35.7047,Karak, Jordan. Church attacked 23 October 2026; 9 killed 32.62,36.1,Deraa, Syria. Air strike sites; 7 civilians killed 26 October 2026 33.3594,36.5853,Nassib crossing, Syria-Jordan border. Closed 27 Oct; reopened 28 Oct 31.9554,35.9453,Amman, Jordan. Capital; air strikes launched from Royal Jordanian Air Force :TIMELINE Key events: Karak church attack to Nassib border reopening 2026-10-23 | Gunmen kill 9 at St George's Greek Orthodox Church, Karak, Jordan; 34 wounded. Jordanian security forces manhunt across Karak Governorate. 2026-10-26 | Three Thneibat brothers arrested after armed stand-off in Al-Jadeeda, Karak. 2026-10-26 | Royal Jordanian Air Force launches Operation Jordanian Deterrence-Hamoud in Syria. 2026-10-26 | Syria reports 7 civilians killed in 4 strike sites; Amman disputes figures. 2026-10-27 | Syria closes Nassib crossing; disputes Jordan's claim that strikes were coordinated. 2026-10-27 | Foreign ministers Safadi and Shaibani speak by phone; agree to joint committee. 2026-10-28 | Syria announces Nassib crossing reopens to passenger and commercial traffic. :CHECKLIST 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. :NOTE 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 :LINK https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/28/syria-jordan-border-reopens-amid-probe-into-deadly-airstrikes Al Jazeera: Syria-Jordan border reopens amid probe into deadly air strikes :LINK https://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/jordan-syria-agree-to-form-joint-security-committee-after-deadly-airstrikes-on-daesh-3008595 Arab News: Jordan, Syria agree to form joint security committee after deadly airstrikes on Daesh :LINK https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/26/jordan-launches-air-strikes-in-syria-in-response-to-a-fatal-church-shooting Al Jazeera: Jordan strikes Syria after church attack, killing at least seven people :LINK https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-10-26/jordanian-security-forces-say-theyve-arrested-three-men-for-a-deadly-attack-on-a-church US News (AP): Jordan says it attacked militants in Syria tied to church assault :LINK https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/10/jordanian-air-force-strikes-syria-in-retaliation-for-deadly-church-attack.php Long War Journal: Jordanian Air Force strikes targets in Syria in retaliation for deadly church attack :LINK https://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/syria-says-main-border-crossing-with-jordan-to-resume-normal-operations-wednesday-3008598 Arab News: Syria says main border crossing with Jordan to resume normal operations Wednesday