Jordan kills five ‘infiltrators’ approaching its borders from Syria

Jordanian soldiers guard the Al Karameh border point with Iraq. AFP / June 25, 2014

AMMAN // Jordan’s border guards killed five people who tried to infiltrate the country and destroyed a pickup truck and two motorcycles as they were approaching Jordan from the Syrian border.

Border guards initially foiled an attempt by nine cars to infiltrate the country from Al Tanf crossing in the past 72 hours, according to the Jordan Armed Forces on Sunday.

Jordanian forces applied the rules of engagement to shoot and kill anyone trying to infiltrate the borders, forcing the cars to retreat towards the Syrian territories.

“Shortly after, a pickup and two motorcycles returned to the border. The rules of engagement were applied,” the Jordanian army said. “As a result, five people were killed, a car and two motorcycles were destroyed and another car that attempted to save the injured and the dead was immobilised.”

The army did not reveal the identity of the men who were killed or which group they belong to.

The Jordanian army has beefed up security on its 370km border with Syria in recent years. It has also foiled many attempts by militants and drug smugglers to cross into the country from Syria.

Also on Sunday, border guards foiled a separate attempt by two infiltrators who tried to cross into Jordan from the northern border with Syria.

“They were arrested and sent to the concerned parties,” the statement said.

Jordan has become increasingly anxious about the potential fallout of pro-Iranian militias advancing towards the border near the Al Tanf garrison in south Syria, where US forces have been training and advising a vetted moderate rebel group since last year in the fight against ISIL.

In a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in April, Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi warned that Amman does not want to see “terrorists groups and sectarian militias” along its border with Syria.

On June 8, the United States staged air strikes against pro-Syrian regime forces, targeting two technical vehicles and pickup trucks with weapons that posed a threat to coalition forces based at Al Tanf garrison, according to Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the ISIL-led coalitiona against ISIL.

That same day, the US also shot down a suspected pro-regime drone that fired on coalition forces conducting patrols outside of the deconfliction zone to the East, Col Dillon added.

These were the third strikes since May 18 by the US in response to threats against the coalition and the rebel force it supports, known as Maghaweer Al Thawra or the Command of the Revolution.