7 killed in Jordanian airstrikes on S. Syria amid coordination dispute

DAMASCUS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Jordanian airstrikes on Syria's southern Daraa province rose to seven on Monday, as the Syrian government rejected Jordan's claim that the strikes had been coordinated in advance, Syrian state media reported.

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a destroyed house following a series of Jordanian airstrikes on the Daraa countryside in southern Syria, on Oct. 26, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

Khaled al-Amyan, head of Daraa's Health Directorate, told Syrian state news agency SANA that the fatalities included three children, three men and a woman, while three others were injured.

Al-Amyan told Syrian state TV Al-Ikhbariya that rescue teams were continuing to search for possible additional victims and that the final casualty toll had yet to be determined.

In a statement, the Syrian government said it was closely monitoring developments following the Jordanian airstrikes, stressing that the operation had been carried out without prior coordination with Syrian authorities.

The government expressed condolences to the victims' families and said relevant authorities were working to provide assistance to those affected.

It added that investigations had been launched to establish the circumstances of the strikes, while communication channels remained open with Jordan to discuss the incident and joint security coordination in border areas.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said separately that it had conveyed its firm objection to Jordan over military operations conducted inside Syrian territory without prior coordination.

Meanwhile, Syria's General Authority for Ports and Customs announced that the Nasib border crossing with Jordan would be closed on Tuesday, citing the security situation and ongoing developments in Daraa province.

The closure will suspend all passenger and commercial traffic in both directions, the authority said, adding that the measure was intended to ensure the safety of travelers and border personnel.

Earlier Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that airstrikes had hit several locations in Daraa and neighboring Sweida province, including areas near al-Muzayrib, Nasib and Khalkhalah military airport.

The Jordanian Armed Forces confirmed carrying out airstrikes against what they described as terrorist hideouts in southern Syria, according to Jordan's official Petra news agency.

The Jordanian military said the operation, named "Jordanian Deterrence-Hmoud," was conducted in coordination with the Syrian government, a claim explicitly contradicted by Damascus.

Jordan said the strikes were launched in retaliation for a deadly attack during a church funeral in Karak governorate on Friday, alleging that those responsible were linked to militant organizations operating in southern Syria.

The Jordanian military added that several suspected militants were killed or injured and that sites and equipment were destroyed, without providing specific casualties.