Seven killed in five-minute volley at Hammoud church

Three gunmen opened fire on a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud, killing at least seven people on Friday.

The attack occurred during a funeral procession in Karak governorate, a region 110 miles south of Amman that maintains a sizeable Christian population. Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya stated at a press conference that 34 others were wounded. He attributed the violence to a group of extremists. The public security directorate reported that the assailants exited a vehicle and stormed the church compound before beginning to shoot.

State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka aired footage showing the moment of the assault. The video captured two men in casual clothing holding pistols and a third carrying a long gun. They fired from a street entrance before advancing into the building. An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that the attackers fired without pause for five minutes before fleeing in their vehicle. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were present in and around the church. Most of the victims were between 50 and 70 years old.

King Abdullah II responded to the incident on social media, promising the harshest retaliation against those responsible. He stated that every Jordanian life is precious and that the nation would strike with an iron fist against threats. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani confirmed that security forces are investigating the attack. A manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world, condemned the shooting. In a presidency statement, he called the event a heinous terrorist attack. He noted that the violence reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland and aims to strike at coexistence. Karak has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in the area, including at a Crusader castle. That incident resulted in ten deaths and dozens of injuries before a standoff ended with the attackers killed by security forces.

The next step in the response involves the ongoing investigation and manhunt led by Jordanian security forces.