Gunmen Fire on Jordan Funeral, Killing Seven and Wounding 34

A gun attack struck a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday, killing seven people during a funeral. The incident occurred in the village of Hammoud, located in the Karak governorate, 110 miles south of Amman. Authorities described the assault as a rare event for the country's Christian population.

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya addressed the media after the shooting. He reported that 34 individuals sustained injuries alongside the seven victims. Al-Faraya stated that a group of extremists was responsible for the violence. The public security directorate provided details on the method of attack. Three assailants exited a vehicle during the funeral procession and stormed the church compound.

Witnesses described a brief but intense exchange of gunfire. An eyewitness speaking to the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka said the attackers fired without pause for five minutes before fleeing. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were present inside or near the church. Most of the victims were between the ages of 50 and 70. Footage from Al-Mamlaka showed two gunmen holding pistols and a third carrying a long gun. They fired from a street entrance and advanced into the building.

King Abdullah II reacted to the attack on social media. He promised the harshest retaliation against those responsible. "Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation," the king wrote. Mohammed Al-Momani, the Minister of Government Communications, confirmed that security forces were investigating the scene. A manhunt for the perpetrators was underway as of Friday.

International reactions followed the news. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the shooting as a heinous terrorist attack. A statement from his presidency noted that terrorism has no religion or homeland. Aoun added that the attack aims to strike at coexistence and spread strife. Karak has a history of violence in the region. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in the area, killing ten people and wounding dozens.

The 2016 attacks included an assault on a Crusader castle popular with tourists. Seven of the victims in that incident were officers. Jordanian security forces killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff. The current attack in Hammoud marks the deadliest incident for Christians in the kingdom in recent years. Security officials continue to search for the three gunmen who escaped in a vehicle.