Jordan, Syria Hold Talks on Security Cooperation
Jordan's foreign minister met Syrian counterparts in Damascus as both sides pursue a joint security probe into recent airstrikes.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in International Relations
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Damascus, opening the third session of the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council. Army and intelligence chiefs from both countries joined the talks, which followed Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria that killed seven civilians.
Why it matters
The talks come after Jordan said its strikes targeted Islamic State sites to head off imminent attacks, a justification that now sits alongside civilian deaths. The meeting signals an effort by both governments to manage the fallout through formal coordination mechanisms.
Seven civilians were killed in Jordanian strikes on Daraa and Sweida, including three children, according to the reported casualty figures. Jordan's claim of about 20 militants killed has not been independently confirmed, and the joint investigation's findings remain pending.
The players
Ayman Safadi
Jordan's foreign minister, a veteran diplomat who leads Amman's external outreach and represented the kingdom at the Damascus talks.
Asaad al-Shaibani
Syria's foreign minister, who hosted the Jordanian delegation in Damascus and co-chaired the council session.
Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council
A bilateral body set up to coordinate cooperation between Jordan and Syria across security, economic and development areas.
The details
Safadi met al-Shaibani at Tishreen Palace, with Jordan's army chief Maj. Gen. Majdi al-Harasis and intelligence director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni in the delegation. Syria's delegation included Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasra, intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Tahan and chief of staff Maj. Gen. Ali al-Naasan. The session is set to review agreements from the council's April meeting in Amman and sign new memorandums of understanding.
Timeline
April 2026: The council's previous session in Amman signed memorandums on several areas.
October 22, 2026: Ministers met in Aqaba and agreed to discuss projects on food security, energy, water and transport.
October 26, 2026: Jordanian airstrikes hit Daraa and Sweida provinces, killing seven civilians.
October 28, 2026: The two governments agreed to form a joint security committee to investigate the strikes.
November 9, 2026: Talks were held in Damascus with army and intelligence chiefs present.
Big Picture
This session continues the April 2026 Amman meeting of the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council, which signed memorandums across several areas. The Damascus talks now review those agreements against the strain created by the October airstrikes.
The outcome of the talks could affect cross-border security along the Jordan-Syria frontier, which shapes travel, trade routes and humanitarian access in the region. Residents of the affected Syrian provinces face continued risk of strikes until the investigation and any coordination measures take effect.
The takeaway
Formal coordination mechanisms can keep bilateral relations functioning even after military incidents, but their credibility depends on whether investigations produce public findings. Watch whether the joint security committee's conclusions are published.
What happens next
The joint security committee formed on October 28 is tasked with investigating the strikes, and the council is expected to sign new memorandums of understanding and implementation programs during its current session.
Further reading
For context on the regional diplomacy behind these talks, see more in International Relations.
