Jordan and Syria reopen Nassib border after deadly dispute

Tensions rose between Jordan and Syria following a series of cross-border airstrikes that killed seven people in southern Syria. The two nations have agreed to reopen their shared border and form a joint committee to investigate the incident.

Nassib, the only land crossing between the two countries, will resume operations for passengers and commercial vehicles on Wednesday morning. State news agency SANA confirmed the reopening after a brief closure that followed the military action.

Jordanian forces struck suspected ISIL hideouts in Deraa and Suwayda on Monday. These attacks occurred in response to a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak region on Friday. ISIL claimed responsibility for the church attack, which killed at least nine people and injured 34 others.

Syrian emergency services reported that the airstrikes hit four separate sites, killing five members of one family, including three children. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi described the strikes as a response to field intelligence aimed at neutralizing imminent terrorist threats to Jordan’s security.

Safadi expressed deep regret over the civilian casualties during a phone call with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. The two diplomats agreed to establish a security committee to examine the aftermath and improve intelligence coordination on terrorist threats. Jordan had initially claimed the strikes were coordinated with Damascus, a position Syria denied.