Three-Hour Firefight Ends Karak Hunt

Three hours of heavy gunfire erupted in the village of al-Jadeeda on Monday morning before Jordanian security forces closed in on their targets. The operation concluded with the capture of three suspects linked to Friday’s deadly attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the nearby village of Hamoud.

Interior Minister Mazin al-Farrayeh confirmed that all three men are Jordanians and members of the same family. A senior security official specified that the group includes two brothers. The suspects had been identified early in the investigation, but they remained at large until this week's dawn raid.

The men were holed up in an abandoned house, approximately six minutes by car from the site of the original attack. They refused to surrender and opened fire on approaching police, triggering a prolonged exchange that lasted until the early afternoon. State news agency Petra reported that firearms and ammunition were recovered from the hideout.

Al-Farrayeh stated that the suspects sustained severe injuries during the confrontation. One was in critical condition when taken into custody. The minister noted that security forces had raided multiple locations in the region before narrowing their search to the final hideout.

The arrests follow the Friday attack on St George’s Church in Hamoud, which is known for its medieval castle. Armed men stormed the compound during a funeral procession, killing eight people and wounding 34 others. Security footage showed attackers shooting outside the building and firing on men attempting to flee.

Authorities described the perpetrators as “extremist terrorists” with no known ties to other groups. No organization has claimed responsibility for the shooting. Al-Farrayeh said the group was responsible for an act with “no relationship to humanity,” though he did not name specific affiliations.

King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an “iron fist” to the attack on the Christian minority. Christians make up between 2 percent and 3 percent of Jordan’s population. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning, with flags flown at half-mast over government institutions.

The eight victims were buried in Karak on Sunday. Their coffins, draped with Jordanian flags, were carried through a large crowd of mourners under heavy security. One identified victim, Mohammad al-Qasous, was a Christian. The Public Security Directorate said investigations are ongoing and that those involved will be taken to justice.