Jordan arrests three church-attack suspects and reports strikes in Syria

Jordanian authorities said three suspects were arrested after a shootout over a church attack that killed nine people. Jordan subsequently reported airstrikes against alleged militant hideouts in Syria; Syrian authorities disputed Jordan’s account of coordination, and a Syrian health official reported civilian deaths.

• Authorities said two brothers and their brother-in-law were arrested Monday following a shootout in Karak governorate. All three were wounded; no security personnel were injured.· 1 source
• Friday’s shooting targeted a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud. CBC and DW reported nine deaths, but their injury figures differed: at least 34 and 40, respectively.· 2 sources
• Jordan said its air force struck alleged militant hideouts in southern Syria after linking the suspects to groups operating there. Jordan said it coordinated with Damascus, while Syria announced an investigation and stressed the need for border-security coordination.· 1 source
• A Syrian health official said five civilians, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. CBC reported that Jordan had not immediately commented on that account.· 1 source
• No group had claimed responsibility for the church attack. Before the airstrike announcement, Jordan’s interior minister said investigations remained open and there were no indications of links to other cells.· 1 source