U.S. condemns killing of Jordanian soldier

Washington, DC, United States (4E) – The U.S. State Department on Monday condemned the killing of a Jordanian soldier by militants trying to cross into Syria.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters in Washington that the Assad regime in Syria is responsible for the violence in the Syria-Jordan border, according to Kuwait News Agency.

The militants were apparently trying to join rebels fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The slain soldier, identified as Corporal Mohammad Abdullah Al Munasir, 25, is the first Jordanian fatality related to the Syria civil war. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Tal Al Rumman in Balqa Governorate with senior officials of the Jordan Armed Forces attending.

Munasir was among the border guards who saw 8 militants trying to illegally cross into Syria. The soldiers warned the militants to stop and surrender but they were fired upon. A firefight ensued and Munasir was fatally shot.

The soldiers were able to arrest all the militants.

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