Key facts
- Jordan conducted airstrikes in southern Syria targeting Islamic State hideouts.
- More than 20 militants were killed in the Jordanian airstrikes.
- The strikes were in response to a church attack linked to militants operating in Syria.
- Islamic State once controlled large swathes of Iraq and Syria.
- The group has been seeking to rebuild its presence in the region.
Jordan conducted airstrikes in southern Syria on October 27, targeting Islamic State hideouts and killing more than 20 militants. The operation followed an investigation linking suspects in a recent church attack, which killed nine people, to the militant group operating across the border. Jordanian security forces also arrested three suspects in a separate shootout. Islamic State has not claimed responsibility for the church attack. The group, which once controlled vast territories in Iraq and Syria and proclaimed a caliphate, has been seeking to rebuild its presence. After losing its strongholds, it now operates in scattered cells in Syria and Iraq, with activities also in parts of Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The UN estimates its membership at 10,000. Concerns have grown about the group exploiting security vacuums, particularly following the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. Islamic State has pivoted towards Africa, with 86% of its global operations occurring there in early 2026. The group has also declared a new phase of operations in Syria against President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government, carrying out attacks and reactivating sleeper cells.