Jordan Strikes Southern Syria After Church Attack; Damascus Protests Civilian Deaths
Photo: The HinduJordan carried out airstrikes in southern Syria on the night of Monday, October 26, 2026, that its government said killed more than 20 Islamic State fighters, in retaliation for Friday's attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud, Karak governorate. Gunmen opened fire there during a funeral; AFP reported nine dead and 25 wounded, and other accounts gave different figures. Syria's civil defence agency said the strikes killed seven people, including three children, while Syria's government gave a figure of at least eight. Jordanian spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said a major weapons depot was also destroyed and expressed regret for civilian casualties. Jordan said it coordinated with Syria; Damascus denied this and condemned a violation of its sovereignty. On Tuesday the foreign ministers, Ayman Safadi and Asaad al-Shaibani, spoke by phone and agreed to form a joint security committee to investigate. On Wednesday Syria summoned Jordan's ambassador, Sufian al-Qudah, and gave him a protest note. It is the worst crisis between the neighbors since Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024.
The left-leaning New York Times and Washington Post, judging by their headlines and excerpts, center on Jordan's account: the Times says the strikes targeted Islamic State and threatened relations between the neighbors, while the Post says Jordan acknowledged civilian deaths and put the militant toll at about 20. Breitbart, on the right, leads with the church attack and calls the targets Islamic State bases. It quotes Momani saying Jordan's patience had run out, cites King Abdullah II's promise of the harshest retaliation, calls the attack the worst killing of Christians in Jordan in over fifty years, and notes Momani gave no details of the coordination he claimed. Both sides report Jordan's retaliation motive, its militant toll and Syria's denial of coordination. They differ in emphasis: the left foregrounds civilian casualties and diplomatic strain, the right the terrorist threat and Jordanian resolve. TRT World and The Hindu add the diplomatic sequence and Syria's casualty figures.
How the sides differ Left sources stress Jordan's claims against Islamic State alongside civilian deaths and diplomatic strain; right sources stress the church attack and Jordan's resolve; alternative sources stress Syria's protest.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
- The Washington PostPaywallJordan acknowledges Syrian civilian deaths in strikes it says killed IS extremists
The New York Times and Washington Post lead with Jordan's claim that it hit Islamic State militants, while noting acknowledged civilian casualties and the risk to relations between Jordan and Syria.
TRT World and The Hindu focus on Syria's protest, the summoned ambassador, the joint investigation committee and the disputed tolls and coordination, citing Syrian officials, Jordan's Momani and Safadi.
Breitbart leads with the church attack and Jordan's retaliation, quoting Momani and King Abdullah II, and reports Syria's toll and its denial of coordination.