Jordan king orders 'iron fist' response to deadly church attack

Jordan's King Abdullah declared a "iron fist" response on Saturday after gunmen attacked a church in Karak governorate, killing nine people and wounding 40 during a funeral service on Friday. The assailants fired for several minutes in broad daylight. Security forces heightened their presence at malls, foreign embassies, and other locations nationwide.

The US embassy in Amman reported the increased security measures. A priest recounted the chaos at Saint George's Greek Orthodox church, located roughly 75 miles southwest of Amman, where people were forced to lie on the floor as bullets rained down indiscriminately. King Abdullah condemned the "despicable terrorist act" during a National Security Council meeting, emphasizing that there would be no leniency regarding the lives of Jordanians.

The attack remains unattributed, and officials are still investigating potential links to known groups domestically or internationally. Tarek Ammarin, a hospital official, described the massacre as "a massacre in every sense of the word," with a relative of his among the wounded. A relative of the injured expressed his gratitude for the nation's security, hoping it would remain secure.

Christians constitute a minority in Jordan, and the country hosts several biblical sites that draw Christian pilgrims globally. Jordan has faced Iranian attacks this year due to the US and Israel's strikes against Iran in February. The mayor of Shihan village in Karak joined other officials in condemning the attack, stating, "God willing, this country will remain secure."