Jordanian air force destroys vehicles entering from Syria

Jordanian air force fighter jets destroyed an undetermined number of vehicles trying to enter the kingdom by crossing the border from war-torn Syria, military officials said Wednesday.

At around 10:30 a.m. local time, the Jordanian Air Force spotted several vehicles illegally crossing the border along a “difficult geographical region to traverse,” according to the statement. “Royal Jordanian Air Force fired warning shots at the vehicles but they failed to comply and therefore the [Jordanian fighter jets], in accordance with the rules of engagement, destroyed these vehicles.”

An army spokesman declined to give any more details, while government officials were not immediately available for comment.

Damascus has denied the targeted vehicles belonged to the Syrian Army, according to a tweet from the Hezbollah-affiliated, pro-regime news outlet Al-Manar.

In recent weeks, Jordan's border guards have clashed with and arrested several people allegedly attempting to cross into the country from Syria, where civil war has been raging for more than three years. Jordan, home to more than 500,000 Syrian refugees, says arms smuggling across the border with Syria has risen by 300 percent in the past year.

It is widely reported that Syria's various rebel factions regularly transport weapons and other supplies across the border with Jordan. The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly accused Jordan of assisting Syrian rebels both militarily and logistically.

Amman denies the accusations, saying it has tightened control of the border and jailed dozens convicted of allegedly trying to cross the frontier illegally.

Al Jazeera and Agence-France Presse