Fighting increases on Jordan’s border as Syrian rebels seek refuge
Special to WorldTribune.com
AMMAN — Clashes have intensified along Jordan’s border
with Syria.
Officials said Syrian forces were targeting the Jordanian border with
mortar and automatic fire.
Jordanian soldiers watch over Syrian refugees who crossed into Jordanian territory with their families on Sept. 15. /Reuters
On Oct. 22, a Jordanian soldier was killed during an army clash with
what were said to be Sunni rebels headed to Syria. Jordanian Information Minister Samih Maaytah said the soldier was killed by 16 Islamist fighters who tried to cross from the Hashemite kingdom to Syria.
In the battle, four Sunni rebels were killed and 12 others fled to
Syria. Cpl. Mohammed Ali Al Manasir marked the first Jordanian casualty in nearly a year of violence along the border with Syria.
Officials said some of the forces were believed to
have been directed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Jordan has hosted some 200,000 Syrian refugees in the northern kingdom. Officials said tension has increased between authorities and the refugees amid complaints of poor services and attempts to join Islamic unrest.
The Jordanian military reported two attacks with Syrian rebels on late
Oct. 21. A military statement said Jordanian border guards captured a group
of eight gunmen and confiscated AK-47s and G-3 assault rifles.
“Our troops captured the whole group and one of our staff fell as a
martyr during the shootout,” the military said.
