Jordan: Seven Dead in Greek Orthodox Church Shooting in Karak

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya announced on Friday that at least seven people died when gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud. The incident occurred in Karak governorate, a region 110 miles south of the capital, Amman, that hosts a notable Christian population. Al-Faraya stated at a press conference that 34 others were wounded in the assault, which he attributed to a group of extremists.

The public security directorate reported that the assailants arrived by vehicle during a funeral procession. Witnesses described the attackers stepping out of the car and opening fire on the church compound. State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka aired footage showing two gunmen in casual clothing holding pistols, while a third carried a long gun. The video captures the men firing from a street entrance before advancing toward the building.

One eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that the vehicle pulled up and the gunmen fired without pause for five minutes before fleeing. The witness estimated that between 150 and 200 people were present in and around the church at the time. They noted that most of the victims were between 50 and 70 years old. A manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway.

King Abdullah II reacted to the violence by promising the "harshest retaliation" against those responsible. He posted on social media that every Jordanian life is precious and that the nation would strike with an iron fist against those threatening its security. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces are actively investigating the attack.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world, condemned the shooting as a "heinous terrorist attack." A statement from the Lebanese presidency quoted Aoun saying the event reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland and aims to strike at coexistence to spread strife.

Violence in the Karak region dates back to 2016, when gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists. That incident left ten people dead, seven of them officers, and dozens wounded. Jordanian security forces killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff. The 2026 attack marks a rare assault on Christians in the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom.