King Abdullah condemns 'terrorist attack' at Jordan church that left six dead and 28 injured

At least six individuals lost their lives when gunmen unleashed a hail of gunfire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan's Karak governorate on Friday, an incident President Abdullah labeled as "terrorist." Petra News Agency reported on the precise details of the shooting, which occurred in Hamoud, a Christian village situated north of Karak.

Security cameras captured the moment of the attack at the church in Karak #SocialSky #Jordan #SkyNewsArabia October 23, 2026 The Public Security Directorate reported that six people were killed and 28 others sustained injuries in the assault at the Greek Orthodox church. Authorities are currently probing the shooting. Karak is known for its minority Christian population within a predominantly Muslim nation.

King Abdullah vowed a strong response, announcing that the attack would be met with "the harshest retaliation" and that he would not tolerate those responsible. He emphasized that the shooting would not fracture the unity of Jordan, stating that "all Jordanians, from north to south, are partners in land and fate, and nothing stands between them."

He expressed deep sorrow for the families of the deceased and wished the injured a quick recovery. The gunmen arrived in a vehicle and began shooting at mourners before fleeing, continuing to fire for around five minutes, according to a relative of one of the victims. Between 150 and 200 people were present in and around the church at the time, with the majority aged between 50 and 70, a witness told The National.

Three doctors were among those killed, according to a member of the Halasah family in Karak. "This was a direct attack on the church. Christians were the target," the relative stated. Live footage from the scene displayed security personnel at the church. No immediate claim of responsibility was made for the attack, and Jordanian authorities have not disclosed the perpetrators.

Such incidents are exceedingly uncommon in Jordan, a relatively stable country that has faced Iranian aggression since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Karak, located about 100 kilometers from the capital, Amman, is home to several biblical sites that draw Christian pilgrims from around the world.