Jordan PM Promises Iron Fist Response After Nine Killed at Karak Church

Three men opened fire on a funeral gathering at St George's Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Karak governorate, on Friday, killing nine people and wounding 40 others. The incident marks a rare violent assault on Jordan's Christian population and has triggered a nationwide security review ordered by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan.

Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh attributed the shooting to extremists but stated that it was too early to confirm links to specific organizations inside or outside the country. No group has yet claimed responsibility. Maj Gen Abdallah al-Maaytah, head of the Public Security Directorate, confirmed that most of the 40 injured are currently receiving medical treatment while the search for the attackers continues.

Footage from a security camera, verified by Reuters, showed the three gunmen firing from a pavement position behind trees and a low wall. They ran toward the church entrance after shooting for several minutes. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as bullets struck indiscriminately. Priest Theodoros Soueiss said a sense of panic took hold among those present. Ihab Ammareen, another witness, observed bloodied individuals collapse on the floor while mourners screamed.

King Abdullah visited Karak within hours of the attack. He pledged to punish the perpetrators with an iron fist and said that those attempting to divide Jordanians with bullets would face the nation's unity. Prime Minister Hassan described the attack as the result of a terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He stated on X that the country would not allow society to follow that path.

The U.S. embassy in Amman reported that security measures have been increased at malls, foreign embassies, and other key locations across the country. This follows a year in which Jordan, a U.S. ally, faced Iranian attacks after American and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. U.S. authorities have previously reported foiling several attempted attacks by Islamist militants in the region.

UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the violence, calling attacks on places of worship unacceptable. Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, labeled the event a depraved and brutal attack. Outside a government hospital in Karak, Hani Al-Mbaydeen, a local resident, called for a thorough investigation into the origins of the ideology behind the shooting.

Jordan, which hosts several biblical sites that attract pilgrims, remains a relatively stable country in the region. The attack has intensified scrutiny on the safety of the nation's minority religious communities. Security forces remain deployed at the church entrance where blood was found on the floor.