Jordan Joins US Strikes on ISIS Targets in Syria

Jordan has confirmed that its air force participated in the strikes carried out by the United States against ISIS targets in Syria, in retaliation for the killing of three American citizens this month, according to Associated Press.

On Friday, the US launched military strikes on several locations in Syria aimed at eliminating ISIS militants and their weapons, following an attack that resulted in the deaths of two American servicemen and a civilian translator about a week ago.

The Jordanian military stated that its air force “participated in airstrikes... against several ISIS positions in southern Syria.” Jordan is one of 90 countries in the global coalition against ISIS, which Syria recently joined.

American military officials did not provide details on the number of casualties from Friday's strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, reported that at least five people were killed, including an ISIS ring leader and members of the group.

In its statement, Jordan emphasized that the operation aimed to “disrupt extremist groups from using the region as a base to threaten the security of Syria’s neighbors and the entire region, especially after ISIS has regrouped and restored its capabilities in southern Syria.”

The US Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, reported that its forces “struck more than 70 targets in various parts of central Syria, utilizing fighters, attack helicopters, and artillery,” with the support of Jordanian Air Force fighters.