Jordanian Forces Wound Three Gunmen During Three-Hour Standoff

Eight people died in a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, Jordan, according to the Ministry of Health. The attack occurred on Friday when three gunmen opened fire during a funeral service in the Karak governorate, located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman.

State media reported that security forces arrested the three armed suspects on Monday. The Public Security Directorate stated that the men were hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The suspects refused to surrender and engaged the forces in a firefight that lasted about three hours.

A government source told Al Jazeera that the attackers sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. One suspect was in critical condition following the exchange of gunfire. No security personnel were reported killed or wounded. A search of the location resulted in the recovery of firearms and live ammunition, according to the Petra News Agency.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani confirmed the arrests in a statement posted on social media. He described the operation as successful and noted that all three suspects were taken into custody after being injured. The Public Security Directorate said the suspects had met their just fate without naming a specific affiliated group.

The Ministry of Health reported that 40 people were injured in the initial attack. As of Monday, 27 patients remained hospitalized. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak indicated that one patient was in critical condition after undergoing surgery. Jordan’s Christian minority, which numbers approximately 300,000 out of a population of 11.5 million, is concentrated in the Karak region.

King Abdullah II ordered a review of security procedures following the incident. He stated that those responsible would face the harshest penalties. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining factors that lead young people to violence. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.