Syriaupdated 2h ago3 min read
MapAsaad Al-Shaibani Launches Joint Probe Into Jordanian Airstrikes in Daraa
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Joint investigation committee launched in Damascus to determine Daraa airstrike circumstances; no prior coordination. Syria summoned Jordanian ambassador, protested deadly airstrikes that killed civilians in Daraa.
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Joint probe after Daraa strike
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced the launch of a joint investigation committee in Damascus to determine the circumstances of the airstrike by the Jordanian Air Force that targeted the province of Daraa, stressing that there was no coordination or prior notice regarding the air raids. Al-Shaibani told families of the victims in Daraa that the committee is a fact-finding effort to discover how the bombardment occurred and how Syrian sovereignty was violated without any coordination, while he said state apparatuses were “on alert to follow up the incident from the very first moment, starting with the president, all ministers and competent authorities.” Jordan and Syria also agreed to establish a joint security committee to investigate the airstrikes, and Syrian state media reported that the Nasib border crossing reopened Wednesday after a temporary closure.
The sources tied the Monday evening Jordanian airstrikes in southern Daraa to civilian harm, with Jordanian air force strikes killing seven civilians, including three children and a woman, and injuring three others. Al-Shaibani framed the dispute as a sovereignty issue, saying “We stated that there was no coordination at all, so as not to allow any misrepresentation,” while the agreement aimed to clarify what happened and strengthen coordination along the shared border.
Protests, regrets, and competing tolls
Syria summoned Jordan’s ambassador to Damascus and handed him a formal protest note for Jordanian airstrikes that killed civilians, including children, in the southern Daraa province, according to a statement by the ministry’s media department carried by SANA. The Foreign Ministry summoned Sufian al-Qudah and delivered the note regarding the strikes on civilian sites, and Syria condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty carried out without coordination with Damascus. Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi expressed deep regret over civilian casualties and offered condolences to the victims’ families during the phone call with Asaad al-Shaibani, while Safadi said the strikes targeted Daesh sites based on field intelligence and were aimed at “neutralizing” confirmed threats and imminent attacks targeting Jordan’s security.
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said Tuesday that preliminary assessments showed more than 20 Daesh militants were killed and a large weapons depot destroyed, while Syrian authorities said seven people were killed in the strikes on Monday. The dispute over the airstrikes also surfaced in the casualty framing, with Syria and Jordan stressing different justifications and assessments as they moved toward the joint committee to examine the circumstances and repercussions.
Border reopening and next steps
Syrian state media reported that passenger and commercial traffic through the Nasib border crossing with Jordan returned to normal on Wednesday morning after its closure on Tuesday, as the two countries sought to prevent the incident from escalating. The joint security committee agreement came as Jordan said its strikes were launched in retaliation for a deadly attack during a church funeral in Karak governorate last Friday, alleging those responsible were linked to militant organizations operating in southern Syria. Jordanian officials said the operation targeted Islamic State militants and reported that more than 20 militants were killed and a major weapons depot destroyed, while Syria denied that any prior coordination had taken place and expressed its objection to military operations inside Syrian territory without advance consultation.
Al-Shaibani said the issue required decisive measures, and he argued that “an official investigation, and the official statement alone is not enough,” as he urged giving the state its role in handling the case wisely. The sources also described the committee’s purpose as reviewing the operations and their aftermath while developing mechanisms for field and intelligence coordination to counter terrorist threats and protect civilians, with both sides seeking to clarify the circumstances of the strikes.