Beirut: Syria’s state news agency said Jordanian authorities had closed the main border crossing between the two countries on Wednesday, citing a source in the Syrian foreign ministry.
The source said Syria held Jordan responsible for the social and economic impact of the closure of Nasib crossing, which had blocked traffic.
Syrian rebels had fierce clashes with regime forces on Wednesday over the last border crossing with Jordan still in government hands, a monitor said.
A coalition of Syrian rebels launched an attack on the southern border crossing of Nasib in Daraa province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.
“Fierce fighting over the control of the Nasib border crossing with Jordan erupted early this morning between Islamists and rebels and regime forces, with the rebels putting the crossing under siege,” the Britain-based group said.
Regime military planes dropped barrel bombs and launched missiles on rebel positions around Nasib, Observatory director Rami Abdul Rahman said.
If rebel forces seize the crossing then “there would be no presence for pro-regime forces on the border with Jordan,” he said.
Syrian rebels have been gaining territory in the southern Daraa province recently.
Last week, rebels seized full control of the ancient city of Bosra Al Sham, pushing pro-regime forces out after days of heavy fighting.
In January, rebels — including fighters from the Al Qaida-affiliated Al Nusra Front — seized an important government army base in the province.
More than 215,000 people have been killed and more than half of the country’s population has been displaced since Syria’s uprising began in the Daraa province in 2011.
