Story perspectives

King Abdullah Orders Crackdown After Church Funeral Attack

By Drooid · Oct 25, 2026, 2:23 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist after the church attack.
Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at St George’s Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Karak governorate.
The death toll rose to nine and nearly 40 people were wounded.
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya called the assault terrorist.
King Abdullah II pledged the perpetrators would face the harshest penalties and ordered a counter-extremism policy review.

History

Historical Context

On 9 Nov 2005, al-Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombers hit three Amman hotels, killing 57 and wounding 115, prompting King Abdullah II to pledge anti-terror reforms. The attacks followed earlier al-Qaeda hotel bombings in Riyadh (2003) and showed a regional pattern of targeting Western-linked venues. The 2024 gun assault on St George’s church in Karak, noted by Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya, revives Jordan’s security challenge.

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Story summary

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist after the church attack.
Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at St George’s Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Karak governorate.
The death toll rose to nine and nearly 40 people were wounded.
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya called the assault terrorist.
King Abdullah II pledged the perpetrators would face the harshest penalties and ordered a counter-extremism policy review.

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