The Kingdom of Jordan has officially confirmed that its air force participated in a series of joint military strikes with the United States against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria. The operation, which took place on Friday, 20 December 2025, was a direct retaliation for an attack earlier this month that killed three American citizens.
Details of the Joint Military Operation
In a statement released on Saturday, the Jordanian military stated its air force "participated in precise airstrikes... targeting several ISIS positions in southern Syria." This action underscores Jordan's active role as one of the 90 nations within the global coalition against the Islamic State. The U.S. Central Command, overseeing the operation, detailed that coalition forces struck more than 70 targets across central Syria using a combination of fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, with Jordan providing fighter aircraft support.
The strikes were launched in response to a deadly shooting incident near Palmyra on 13 December. A Syrian gunman, who had recently been under investigation for suspected ISIS links, opened fire during a meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials. The attack resulted in the deaths of two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter, with three other U.S. service members wounded.
Regional Security and Broader Counterterrorism Efforts
The Jordanian statement emphasised that the operation aimed "to prevent extremist groups from exploiting these areas as launching pads to threaten the security of Syria’s neighbours and the wider region." This concern is particularly acute given intelligence suggesting ISIS has been regrouping and rebuilding its capabilities in southern Syria.
While the U.S. military did not provide a casualty figure, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least five people were killed, including the leader of an ISIS cell. Furthermore, U.S. Central Command revealed that since the 13 December attack, coalition forces have conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq, leading to the death or detention of 23 terrorist operatives.
Political Context and Ongoing Threats
U.S. President Donald Trump had pledged "very serious retaliation" for the assault, which he blamed on ISIS. Following the strikes, President Trump reiterated his support for Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who he said was "fully in support" of the action. The relationship is complex; while al-Sharaa has a long-running enmity with ISIS, the group has labelled his government and army as "apostates."
Although ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack on the U.S. personnel, it has since claimed two assaults on Syrian security forces. The coalition's activity remains high, with over 80 counterterrorism operations conducted in Syria in the past six months alone, highlighting the persistent and evolving threat posed by the militant group in the region.
