Syria has summoned Jordan’s ambassador to Damascus and handed him a formal protest note over Jordanian air strikes in the southern Daraa province that Syrian authorities said killed civilians, including children.
The Syrian foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned Sufian al-Qudah to convey its objection to the strikes on civilian sites, according to a statement from the ministry’s media department carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
The diplomatic move came a day after Damascus and Amman agreed to establish a joint security committee to investigate the strikes and strengthen coordination to protect civilians and safeguard Syrian sovereignty.
Syria and Jordan agree to joint investigation
The agreement followed a phone call late Tuesday between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani and his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi.
During the call, Safadi expressed deep regret over the casualties and offered condolences to the Syrian people.
However, he said the strikes targeted Daesh positions based on intelligence indicating confirmed threats and imminent attacks against Jordan.
Syrian authorities said seven people were killed in Monday’s strikes, while Syria condemned the operation as a violation of its sovereignty, arguing that it was conducted without coordination with Damascus.
Jordan says strikes targeted Daesh networks
Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani said Tuesday that the air strikes killed more than 20 Daesh members and destroyed a major weapons depot.
The Jordanian military said the operation targeted groups linked to a Friday attack on mourners at a church in Jordan’s southern Karak province, which killed nine people.
The differing accounts of the casualties and targets underscore the need for the joint investigation agreed by the two countries.
The planned committee is expected to strengthen security coordination as Damascus and Amman seek to address cross-border threats while preventing further harm to civilians.
