JaFaJ has witnessed a major wave of Syrian anger against King Abdullah II following Jordan’s 26 October airstrikes, which Syrian authorities say killed seven civilians, including three children. Syrians circulated photographs and names of the children, alongside footage of the bombed family dwelling, challenging Jordan’s claims about terrorist targets. The backlash coincided with the temporary closure of the Nasib border crossing, the principal land gateway between Syria and Jordan, which subsequently reopened. Across X, Facebook and TikTok, criticism centred on the king personally, frequently using the mocking nickname “King of Tomatoes.” Users demanded investigations and punishment, while others called for revenge, boycotts of Jordanian goods, restrictions on trade and cuts to water supplies. Heated exchanges developed between Syrian users and accounts they accused of working for the Jordanian authorities, although those affiliations remain unverified. Some Jordanian users also expressed sympathy for the victims and openly criticised the king.
The anger reflects a deeper sense of humiliation and violated sovereignty, with Syrians drawing parallels between the children’s deaths and the Assad government’s bombardment of their communities. Some users invoked Jordanian opposition figures, called for a republic or provocatively argued that Jordan should become a Palestinian state. Others circulated unverified allegations that the Karak church attack had been staged and that the strikes were intended to export an internal crisis. Jordan acknowledged civilian deaths but maintained that its targets were ISIS positions; Damascus denied prior coordination, formally protested and agreed with Amman to establish a joint security committee. These diplomatic measures may ease tensions between the governments, but the public backlash is unlikely to subside quickly without a credible investigation and accountability. The strikes have created a political burden for Jordan’s leadership, with the children’s photographs becoming a lasting focus of anger.