Syrian and Jordanian troops exchange cross-border fire

Jordanian soldiers opened fired on Syrian troops Friday night after the Syrians shot at refugees attempting to cross the border, Reuters reported.

According to a Syrian opposition activist who witnessed the fighting, near Tel Shihab, armored vehicles were also involved in the clash.

“The Syrian side fired across the border and fighting ensued. Initial reports indicate that there has been no one killed from the Jordanian side,” said a Jordanian source.

Similar exchanges have taken place along the volatile border in the past. A Jordanian soldier and two refugees were injured by Syrian fire last Thursday.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees have reportedly been killed or injured on the Jordanian border over the past 18 months while attempting to flee the violence. Approximately 140,000 Syrian refugees now reside in Jordan, and their rate of entry has risen to an estimated 2,000 per day in recent months.