HAMA, Syria: The Syrian government forces’ 25th Special Mission Forces Division, commonly known as the Tiger Forces, engaged in joint military exercises with Russian forces near the al-Mujanzarat Base in the eastern countryside of Hama Governorate, situated in central-west Syria. The exercises come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflicts in the area.
Meanwhile, the US State Department expressed condemnation for recent Iranian airstrikes in Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria. Emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the escalating tensions in the region, the department called for diplomatic efforts to address the challenges and reduce hostilities.
Simultaneously, reports indicate that suspected Jordanian air strikes in south-western Syria have resulted in at least 10 casualties, including children. The strikes targeted residential areas in Arman, a town in Suweida province, approximately 20km (12 miles) from the border. Numerous homes were reportedly destroyed, with witnesses describing the devastation and casualties.
ALSO READ: Nine Civilians Dead in Strikes on Syria Attributed to Jordan
While there has been no immediate comment from Jordanian authorities, it is believed that Jordanian forces have conducted air strikes in Syria over the past year, targeting suspected drug smugglers and their facilities. Jordan and its Western allies assert that well-organized and heavily armed Iran-backed militias in government-controlled areas of Syria are responsible for an increase in smuggling activities into the kingdom.
The latest air strikes in Arman have sparked condemnation from activist groups, with reports indicating multiple casualties, including women and children. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, decried the incident as a “massacre” and highlighted this as the third instance this year of Jordanian warplanes violating Syrian territory. The situation adds to the complexity of regional conflicts and underscores the challenges in achieving stability and peace in the war-torn region.
