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Jordan raids: Eight killed in Irbid as forces battle 'outlaws' | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
A Jordanian security officer and seven "outlaws" have been killed in armed clashes in the northern city of Irbid, a government spokesman says. | |
Four officers were also injured in fighting triggered by raids, reportedly targeting jihadists, that began on Tuesday night and ended before dawn. | |
One security source said the targets were Islamic State (IS) sympathisers. | |
Jordan is part of a US-led military coalition against the group, which is based in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. | |
The kingdom launched air strikes on IS positions in Syria in September 2014, to ensure the "stability and security" of its borders. | |
The overnight operation in Irbid, which is 20km (12 miles) from the Syrian border, was reportedly one of the largest against suspected jihadist cells in years. | |
Government spokesman Mohammad Momani told the Public Security Department's Amen radio station that the raids started at around 19:00 (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday and lasted until 03:00 on Wednesday, according to the Jordan Times newspaper. | |
Mr Momani described the targets of the raids as "outlaws". | |
He did not elaborate, but separately told the Associated Press in a text message that they were part of a "terrorist group". | |
A security source told the Reuters news agency that they were mainly members of IS or sympathisers, and that they had been holed up in a residential building near a Palestinian refugee camp in the centre of Irbid. | |
At least 30 suspects were also arrested in the operation, the source added. |