Jordan: Five killed at Syrian border June 11

Event

Members of the Jordanian army killed five people who were approaching the border from the Syrian city of Tanf on Sunday, June 11. The incident occurred a few hours after a convoy of nine cars approached the border before fleeing the area, under the fire of Jordanian border guards. The army has not announced the identities of the men who were killed.

Context

Cross-border activities from Syria into Jordan are not common but do occur. The Jordanian authorities have expressed concerns about the growing instability in the kingdom's border areas, especially those near Iraq and Syria. Jordan closed the border near the Ruqban camp in June 2016, halting aid deliveries, after a terrorist attack claimed by Islamic State (IS) killed seven Jordanian soldiers

Advice

Individuals in Jordan are strongly advised to adhere to security instructions issued by local authorities. Some foreign governments have advised their nationals against all travel near the Syrian and Iraqi borders.