# Jordan and Syria Strengthen Ties Following Deadly Border Airstrike Incident Foreign ministers meet in Damascus to sign cooperation agreements and launch a joint security investigation. - **Source:** [The New Arab](https://www.newarab.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [world](https://brifing.si/c/world) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f75accc9-3130-4beb-be25-1b17a6efcc3f ## Diplomatic Visit Amid Tension Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi traveled to Damascus on Monday for high-level talks with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani. This visit occurs less than two weeks after Jordanian airstrikes in Daraa province killed seven civilians, including three children. The meeting aims to stabilize bilateral relations despite the recent military escalation. ## Context of Military Strikes Jordan conducted the October 26 airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants allegedly linked to a deadly church attack in Karak. While Jordan claimed the operation neutralized over 20 militants, Syrian authorities condemned the violation of their sovereignty. Safadi expressed regret for the civilian casualties during his recent visit to the Syrian capital. ## Joint Security Investigation Launched The two nations agreed to establish a joint security and technical committee to investigate the airstrike incident. Foreign Minister al-Shaibani stated that work is underway to compensate the victims' families. Both sides emphasized that the incident will not disrupt their ongoing efforts to maintain strong, brotherly relations between the two countries. ## Expanding Bilateral Cooperation During the third session of the Higher Coordination Council, the countries signed 11 new cooperation agreements. These documents cover diverse sectors including investment, civil aviation, and food security. Additionally, the ministers discussed a proposed railway project intended to connect Saudi Arabia to Turkey by passing through both Jordan and Syria. ## Economic and Technical Ties Economic cooperation is deepening, with trade volume nearly tripling to $330 million over the past year. Currently, 20 of Syria's 22 government ministries are engaged in direct collaboration with Jordanian counterparts. New initiatives include cloud seeding projects in the Yarmouk River basin to address water security and agricultural development needs. ## Regional Security Challenges Beyond the recent border incident, the ministers addressed persistent security concerns, specifically drug trafficking along the shared frontier. Safadi reaffirmed Jordan's support for Syria against ongoing Israeli military attacks. He urged the international community to intervene to prevent further regional escalation, highlighting the shared strategic interests of both neighboring states. ## Post-Assad Political Landscape This diplomatic engagement reflects the evolving political environment following the December 2024 overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Since that transition, Amman and Damascus have significantly expanded their political, economic, and security ties. Both ministers described their current bilateral relationship as being at its strongest point in several decades. ## Future Outlook for Relations The establishment of the security committee and the signing of numerous agreements signal a commitment to long-term stability. By prioritizing intelligence-sharing and economic integration, Jordan and Syria seek to move past the recent diplomatic test. Both nations appear focused on maintaining regional cooperation despite the challenges posed by border security. ## Sources covering this story - [Source — Jordanian Foreign Minister Visits Damascus Following Deadly Airstrikes](https://www.newarab.com/news/jordan-fm-damascus-talks-after-deadly-syria-strikes) - [Al-Monitor — Syria and Jordan Mend Ties Following Deadly Airstrike Incident](https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/11/syria-jordan-seek-mend-ties-after-deadly-airstrikes-sign-cooperation-deals) - [The National — Jordan-Syria Relations Reach Three-Decade Peak](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/10/jordans-ties-with-syria-at-all-time-high-despite-attacks-says-ex-prime-minister/) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._