Jordanian security forces intercepted a group of 14 armed individuals attempting to cross into the country from Syria on Friday, according to a statement from Jordan's armed forces cited by the state news agency Petra. The attempted infiltration was met with heavy fire and direct engagement, resulting in multiple casualties among the group, some of whom reportedly retreated back into Syrian territory.

The Jordanian authorities did not provide further details regarding the identities of the armed individuals. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges along Jordan’s northeastern border with Syria, where smuggling networks have increasingly employed sophisticated methods to transport narcotics and weapons.

This attempted border breach follows a series of Jordanian airstrikes conducted earlier in the week targeting locations in southern Syria. Jordan stated these strikes, launched on Monday, were aimed at militant hideouts linked to a recent deadly attack on a church within Jordan’s borders. The Jordanian military claimed more than 20 Islamic State militants were killed during the operations.

The Islamic State group, although largely defeated by a US-led coalition several years ago, has sought to regroup and regain influence in parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. Jordan, a longstanding US ally in counterterrorism efforts, is considered one of the more stable countries in the volatile Middle East region. Its security services have previously thwarted multiple militant plots, including those connected to Islamic State sympathizers.

Syria condemned the Jordanian strikes, describing them as a violation of its sovereignty. Damascus reported that seven civilians, including three children and a woman, were killed during the air campaign. In response, Jordan’s foreign minister expressed regret over civilian casualties and reaffirmed Jordan’s respect for Syrian sovereignty.

Following the incidents, officials from Jordan and Syria agreed to establish a joint security committee tasked with investigating the airstrikes and enhancing intelligence sharing and bilateral coordination. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to ensure border security and stability at the Manama Dialogue conference held in Bahrain on Saturday. “There is a lot of co-operation with Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon in order to guarantee the security and stability of the borders,” he stated, acknowledging the complex challenges faced by the region.