Jordanian security forces clash with gunmen near Syria border
Three troops injured in firefight with ‘outlaws’ in the northern city of Irbid
Jordanian troops exchanged fire with armed men during arrest raids in the northern city of Irbid on Tuesday, including one group holed up in a building, security officials said.
Jordan’s Public Security Directorate referred to those being targeted in the raids as “outlaws” but did not elaborate. The directorate reported there were deaths among the gunmen but did not say how many, and that three members of the security forces were hurt. The statement said clashes began earlier Tuesday and continued in the evening.
The daily al-Ghad said more than 20 suspected militants were arrested in the operation.
Jordanian media said the security forces were battling religious extremists.
Amateur video posted online showed groups of men, apparently onlookers, standing in a street as heavy gunfire could be heard in the distance.
Since last year, Jordan assumed a high-profile role in the US-led military campaign against the extremist Islamic State group which controls large areas of neighboring Iraq and Syria.
Jordan has also cracked down domestically, with IS sympathizers, including those expressing support for the group in social media, facing several years in prison.
The Times of Israel Community.