Seven killed in shooting at Jordanian church funeral

At least seven people were killed when gunmen stormed a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday during a funeral service. The attack occurred in the village of Hammoud, located within the Karak governorate, and has been described by officials as a rare violent incident targeting the Christian community in the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom.

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya addressed the media following the incident, confirming that thirty-four additional individuals sustained injuries. He attributed the shooting to a group of extremists. The public security directorate reported that the assailants exited a vehicle while a funeral procession was underway and immediately entered the church compound to open fire. A widespread manhunt for the perpetrators is currently under way. The region, which is home to a substantial Christian population, is situated roughly 110 miles south of the capital city, Amman.

Video footage distributed by the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka captured the moment the attack began. The recording shows two gunmen dressed in casual clothing holding pistols, while a third individual carries a long gun. They are seen firing from a street-level entrance before advancing toward the building. An eyewitness speaking to the broadcaster described the vehicle pulling up and the gunmen firing continuously for five minutes before fleeing the scene. The witness estimated that between 150 and 200 people were present inside and around the church, noting that most of the victims were between the ages of 50 and 70.

Government officials have moved quickly to coordinate the response. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani stated that security forces are actively investigating the details of the attack. King Abdullah II pledged the harshest retaliation against those responsible for the violence. In a social media post, the King declared that every Jordanian life is precious and that the nation would strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten it.

The incident has also drawn immediate attention from regional leaders. 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 his presidency noted that the violence reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland, with the primary aim of striking at coexistence and spreading strife.

The Karak area has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of coordinated attacks in the region, including one at a Crusader castle that is popular with tourists. That incident resulted in ten deaths, seven of whom were officers, along with dozens of injuries. Security forces eventually killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff.

Security authorities continue to search for the remaining suspects as they examine the site for forensic evidence. The community remains on alert, with local leaders urging residents to stay near the church grounds while the investigation proceeds.