Terrorist attack at Orthodox church in Jordan kills several

On October 23, 2026, a terrorist attack occurred at the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud, located in the Karak region of southern Jordan. Armed individuals arriving in a vehicle opened fire on attendees during a funeral service. While some reports initially suggested seven deaths, official tallies have fluctuated between six and seven fatalities, with up to 34 people injured, many of whom remain hospitalized in serious condition.

Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya confirmed the incident as a terrorist act carried out by an extremist group. Following the attack, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan held emergency security meetings, and King Abdullah II vowed that the perpetrators would face severe punishment. Eyewitnesses reported an explosion occurring shortly before two masked gunmen entered the building and fired for approximately five minutes. Security forces have launched an intensive manhunt for the suspects.

The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation, including statements from the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. Authorities continue to investigate the assault as a strike against the peaceful coexistence of religious communities in the region.