AMMAN — The government has reiterated the deep Amman-Damascus relations as well as its commitment to developing cooperation with Jordan’s northern neighbour in a manner that ensures constant coordination in confronting all shared challenges, including the Daesh terror group, which poses a common threat to both countries.

 

In a statement on Tuesday, Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani emphasised the deep respect Jordan holds for the Syrian state and its brotherly people.

 

He stressed that coordination between Jordan and Syria in combating terrorism and the smuggling of weapons and drugs is institutional and ongoing, and has been in place for years.

 

“This coordination stems from a firm conviction in strengthening the security of both brotherly countries and reflects their joint efforts to establish security and stability,” Momani said.

 

The minister stressed that the airstrikes carried out on Monday by the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) targeted Daesh positions, following “Jordan’s loss of patience with the movements of these terrorist groups and their threats to national security.”

 

JAF said that Royal Jordanian Air Force carried out an operation targeting “terrorist hideouts in southern Syria, in retaliation for the attack on mourners at a church funeral in Karak on Friday,.

 

The operation, named “Jordanian Deterrence – Hmoud,” involved fighter jets striking several sites and destroying a number of vehicles belonging to the targeted groups, JAF said in a statement.

 

The army said that the strikes, carried out in coordination with the Syrian government, killed and wounded numerous members of the groups, which were linked to those responsible for the attack in Hmoud.

 

Momani explained that the operations were conducted based on field intelligence to neutralise confirmed threats and terrorist operations against Jordan.

 

He noted that preliminary results of these operations indicate, so far, significant losses within Daesh ranks, estimated at more than 20 members, as well as the destruction of a large weapons depot belonging to the organization.

 

Momani, who is also the government spokesperson, expressed regret over the civilian casualties. He stated that Jordan had refrained from targeting locations where intelligence indicated the presence of civilians, emphasising that the relevant Jordanian authorities are following up on this matter with their Syrian counterparts.

 

Momani stressed that Jordan always takes all necessary precautions to avoid harming civilians, adding that the lives of innocent civilians beyond Jordan’s borders is as important as the lives of Jordanians.

 

Momani explained that Jordan will work with its Syrian counterparts to establish a joint committee to follow up on their percussions of the operation against Daesh to enhance coordination in combating terrorist organisations, in a manner that ensures the security of both countries and their peoples and protects civilians.

 

Momani affirmed that the security of Jordan and Syria is one and the same, and that combating terrorism, which targeted Jordan several days ago in the village of Hmoud in Karak, is a shared objective for both countries.

 

He added that the two countries will continue working to strengthen their deeply rooted brotherly relations.

 

The minister emphasised that no one can question Jordan’s commitment to Syria, adding that the Kingdom has hosted Syrians, stood by them, and continuously provided them with support.

 

He also noted that Jordan coordinates with international parties to safeguard Syria territory, ensure its unity and stability, and protect it against ambitions directed at the country, particularly in southern Syria.