Jordan denies reports of airspace breach by Syrian jets

By Laith al-Juneidi

AMMAN (AA) - Jordan on Friday denied reports that Syrian warplanes had violated its airspace, according to a statement released by the Jordanian military.

“This morning, remote areas of Jordan’s western Ramtha province were struck by munitions due to the recent intensification of Syrian and Russian airstrikes on the Syrian side of the border,” the Jordanian military quoted an unnamed official source as saying.

No causalities have been reported, according to the statement.

The same source went on to deny recent reports on social media “regarding the alleged violation of Jordanian airspace by Syrian jet fighters”.

On Friday morning, local media outlets reported that an unspecified number of Syrian warplanes had entered Jordanian airspace before conducting a raid on Jordan’s northern city of Al-Tura.

- Fighting in Daraa

For the past week, Syria’s southern Daraa province has been the target of heavy shelling by the Assad regime amid attempts by the latter to reassert control of the region.

On June 12, the Syrian regime -- supported by Iranian militia groups and Russian air power -- launched a wide-ranging operation aimed at capturing opposition-held parts of southern Syria.

Civil-defense sources in Daraa have told Anadolu Agency that the number displaced Syrians fleeing the area had surpassed 350,000.

According to the U.K.-based Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least 214 civilians -- including women and children -- were killed in regime attacks in Daraa in the period from June 15 to June 30.

The onslaught has reportedly forced tens of thousands of civilian residents to flee to areas near Syria’s border with Jordan.

The UN, meanwhile, has called on Jordan to open its border to displaced Syrians -- a request that Amman has so far refused.