Gunmen kill seven at church funeral in Jordan; king vows retaliation

· Security · Jordan

Two masked gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan's southern Karak governorate on Friday, killing at least seven people and wounding 34, according to the Public Security Directorate. Between 150 and 200 people were inside and around the church at the time, a witness said. Police launched a manhunt for the attackers, and King Abdullah vowed retaliation. CCTV footage showed the gunmen near the church. The attack is a rare strike on Jordan's Christian minority in a country that has generally been a stable US-aligned monarchy in a volatile region.

Why it matters：An attack on a church in a stable US-aligned monarchy raises sectarian and security risks in a region already on edge over the Iran conflict.

Key points

  • At least seven killed and 34 wounded in Karak
  • Two masked gunmen carried out the attack during a funeral
  • King Abdullah vowed retaliation; a manhunt is under way

Sources (original reporting)

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