Jordanian Gunmen Kill Seven at Greek Orthodox Funeral in Karak

At least seven people died on Friday when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud, located in Jordan's Karak governorate. The attack resulted in 34 additional injuries, according to Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya, who addressed the public at a press conference. He attributed the violence to a group of extremists, marking a rare assault on Christians in the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom.

The public security directorate reported that the assailants exited a vehicle during the funeral procession to storm the church compound. They fired from a street entrance before advancing into the building. A manhunt for the perpetrators began immediately following the incident. Karak is situated 110 miles south of the capital, Amman, and hosts a notable Christian population.

Footage from the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka showed three attackers in casual clothing. Two held pistols, while a third carried a long gun. An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that the attackers fired continuously for five minutes before escaping in their vehicle. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were present in and around the church at the time, noting that most victims were between 50 and 70 years old.

King Abdullah II pledged severe consequences for those responsible. He stated on social media that every Jordanian life is precious and that the nation would strike with an iron fist against those threatening it. Mohammed Al-Momani, the Minister of Government Communications, confirmed that security forces were actively investigating the attack.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the shooting as a heinous terrorist attack. In a statement from his presidency, Aoun, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world, said the incident reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland. He noted that the aim of such violence is to strike at coexistence and spread strife.

Violence in the Karak region has historical precedent. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists. Ten people died in that incident, seven of them officers, and dozens were wounded. Security forces killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff.