Armed attack on a church in Jordan results in multiple casualties

On October 23, 2026, armed attackers opened fire during a funeral procession at the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud, located in the Karak region of southern Jordan. Reports regarding the casualty count have fluctuated; while initial state media reports mentioned seven deaths, the latest official figures provided by government sources indicate six people were killed and 28 injured, with some victims in critical condition. Witnesses reported that the assault lasted approximately five minutes before the gunmen fled the scene in a vehicle.

Jordanian authorities, including Interior Minister Mazen al-Farayah, have officially classified the event as a terrorist act committed by a group of extremists. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan has traveled to Karak to chair a security council meeting, and King Abdullah II issued a strong condemnation, vowing that the perpetrators will face severe punishment and stressing that the attack will not undermine national unity. Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem also commented on the tragedy, asserting the resilience of the community. A large-scale security operation is currently underway to apprehend the suspects.