Jordan announced on Monday that in response to the attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak last Friday, its air force launched strikes against certain groups in Syria. The original attack resulted in nine fatalities. According to media reports, multiple members of these militant groups were either killed or wounded during the operation, and several vehicles were destroyed. However, details about which groups were targeted or the exact locations of the strikes were not disclosed. Syrian officials have not yet commented on the incident.
Arrests and Investigation
Earlier Monday, Jordanian authorities confirmed that three individuals were arrested in connection with the church attack last week. The assault left more than two dozen people injured. Officials revealed that these arrests followed a confrontation at dawn, during which all three suspects sustained injuries. The attack took place during a funeral service at the Greek Orthodox church in Karak, located approximately 90 kilometers south of Amman. Karak is home to a Christian minority community.
The nation was deeply shaken by the assault, prompting Jordan to declare three days of mourning for the victims. No group has claimed responsibility so far, and the motives behind the attack remain unclear. Later on Monday, the Public Security Directorate identified the three detainees as two brothers, Hazza Zaidan Muhammad and Mishal Zaidan Muhammad, along with their brother-in-law, Ahmed Sami Hussein. All three are Jordanian nationals from Karak, south of Amman.
Weapons, Terrorism, and Official Responses
Officials recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition from an abandoned house where the suspects were apprehended. Major General Obaidallah Abd Rabbo Al-Mayata described the men as “Takfiri,” a term often used for Sunni extremists. However, he stated they were not connected to any organized group, acting independently instead.
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya condemned the attack as a result of extremist and terrorist ideology. He warned that unless such thinking is changed, similar incidents could recur. King Abdullah II ordered strict action against those committing crimes in the name of Islam and attempting to divide the Jordanian people. In an official statement on Monday, the King emphasized the determination to ensure terrorists face punishment and to reject ideologies that aim to sow division.
Victims’ families expressed some relief on learning of the arrests, though the pain remains profound. Khalid Al-Borkan, a relative of those affected, told Al-Mamlaka that despite the tragedy, the recent developments have eased collective grief to some extent. Another survivor, Faris Halaseh, shared with a TV channel that while the sorrow continues, the news of the arrests brought a small measure of comfort. He noted that the pain would linger for many years to come.
This incident marks a somber moment for Jordan’s security and religious community. Authorities continue their investigation as the country processes the aftermath of the attack. Meanwhile, relations between Jordan and Syria remain tense amid ongoing regional instability, with this latest military action underscoring complex cross-border security challenges.
