2026 Karak church shooting
Mass shooting in Karak governorate, Jordan
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On 23 October 2026, three gunmen opened fire on Greek Orthodox St George's Church during a funeral procession in the Jordanian village of Hmoud near Karak, killing nine people and wounding between 34 and 40 others, according to differing official and media counts.[3] The attack is the deadliest on Jordan's Christian community in the country's modern history.[4]
Hmoud, Karak Governorate, Jordan
| 2026 Karak church shooting | |
|---|---|
Footage of shooters moving towards the church | |
  Location within Jordan | |
| Location | 31°17′22″N 35°47′58″E Hmoud, Karak Governorate, Jordan |
| Date | 23 October 2026 15:00 (AST, UTC+3) |
Attack type | |
| Weapons | |
| Deaths | 9[1] |
| Injured | 34[2] |
| Perpetrator |  Islamic State (suspected) |
| Assailants | Hazaa Zidan Thneibat Mashaal Zidan Thneibat Ahmad Sami Thneibat |
The attackers fired at mourners from outside the church and continued the attack for several minutes. Jordanian security forces subsequently launched a manhunt for the perpetrators. On 26 October, security forces captured all three suspects, who were seriously wounded in a roughly three-hour shootout at a hideout in the village of al-Jadeeda, Karak.[5][6] Officials said the three are Jordanian relatives.
The incident occurred in a governorate historically known as one of the country's principal centers of indigenous Christian Jordanian life and is known for its longstanding warm relations with Muslims. The shooting was considered an unusual security incident in Jordan. Although Jordan has experienced major terrorist attacks, including the 2005 Amman hotel bombings and the 2016 Karak attack, its security services have repeatedly foiled attempted attacks by militant groups.
King Abdullah II of Jordan condemned the shooting as a "terrorist attack", vowed a strong response against those responsible and emphasized national unity. The government declared three days of national mourning, with flags flown at half-mast across the country. The attack prompted international condemnation.
On 26 October, the Jordanian Air Force conducted strikes on neighbouring Daraa and Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria, killing at least seven people. The alleged target was the Islamic State.[7][8][9]
Background
Karak and its surrounding villages including Hmoud are home to a population of Arab Christian Jordanians.[10] Karak has historically been one of Jordan's principal centers of indigenous Christian life and is known for its longstanding relations between Muslim and Christian communities.[11]
The Christian Science Monitor reported in 2017 that the communities had lived together for generations, with shared tribal customs extending to marriage negotiations, mutual protection and the resolution of disputes. The newspaper quoted Mohammed Maaytah, the Muslim mayor of Adir, describing the communities as deeply interdependent.[11] In 2016, the Italian newspaper La Stampa also documented cooperation between Muslim and Christian medical professionals at Karak's Italian Hospital, which had been operated by Comboni missionaries since 1935.[12]
A previous Islamic State terrorist attack occurred in the Karak Governorate in 2016, when a group of 5 militants killed 14 people and wounded 37 in a series of shootings in the city of Al-Karak.[13][10]
Shooting
On 23 October 2026, three gunmen arrived by car and opened fire at St George's Church in Hmoud during a funeral procession for a woman from the village. Between 150 and 200 people were inside and around the church at the time.[14]
On CCTV footage verified by the BBC, two of the attackers are seen entering through a vehicle entrance to the church compound, before retreating and returning with a third gunman. All three are armed with handguns, with at least one also carrying an AK-47.[15][16][17][18]
Video footage showed the three gunmen firing towards the church from the sidewalk while hiding behind trees and a wall, before sprinting into the compound.[15] Other footage showed the attackers shooting at a group of men outside the building who were trying to flee.[19] The attackers fired on mourners for several minutes, and footage of the aftermath showed bodies and blood inside the church.[15][20] Jordanian security forces were deployed across the area and a manhunt began.[14]
The shooting was considered an unprecedented security incident in Jordan, where major gun attacks, and especially those targeting Christians, have been rare.[21][22][23] Although Jordan has experienced major terrorist attacks, including the 2005 Amman hotel bombings and the 2016 Karak attack, its security services have repeatedly foiled attempted attacks by Islamist militant groups.[24]
Victims
Nine people were killed and between 34 and 40 others were wounded, with the figure varying by source and as the count was updated.[25][26] Two of the wounded were in critical condition.[1][27] The victims were aged between 23 and 70.[28] Among those killed was Mohammad al-Qasous, a Christian.[29] At least one Muslim mourner was reported among the wounded outside the church.
Following the shooting, the Jordanian Armed Forces arranged the air evacuation of injured victims from Karak to the King Hussein Medical Center in Amman. Eight injured were transported to Amman aboard a Royal Jordanian Air Force helicopter, and three additional patients were transferred to a private hospital.[30]
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, eyewitness William Halaseh, a relative of the woman whose funeral was being held, said that Muslim residents of the village rushed to assist the wounded after the attack. Halaseh emphasized the longstanding coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Karak.[31] Another injured survivor interviewed by Jordanian television station Al-Mamlaka at King Hussein Medical Center said that the wounding of both Muslims and Christians outside the church sent a message about coexistence, and that the attack would strengthen Jordanians' determination to maintain unity.[32]
On 25 October, eight of the victims were buried in Karak in a funeral attended by thousands of mourners, with coffins draped in Jordanian flags amid a heavy security presence.[29][33]
Perpetrators
According to Jordan's Interior Ministry, a "group of extremists" was behind the attack.[34] Authorities reportedly knew the names of the suspected perpetrators but did not disclose them on the day of the attack.[35]
On 26 October, the office of King Abdullah II named the suspects as Hazaa Zidan Thneibat (33), Mashaal Zidan Thneibat (32) and Ahmad Sami Thneibat (31).[36] An Arabic-language report published the same day gave the names as Haza' Zaidan Muhammad, Mash'al Zaidan Muhammad and Ahmad Sami Husayn, describing Haza' as the planner and Husayn as his brother-in-law.[37] The transliteration of the names varies between outlets.
The perpetrators appeared in a video in which they verbally expressed allegiance to the Islamic State. The video was not verified, their connection to the organization was not officially confirmed, and the organization did not claim responsibility for the attack.[38] As of 26 October, authorities had said it was too early to determine whether the men had links to known groups inside or outside Jordan.[39]
Shootout and arrest of suspects
According to the Public Security Directorate, joint security forces and commando teams were able to locate the three-man terrorist team during an intensive, non-stop manhunt using reconnaissance, drones and other surveillance equipment, which led them to an abandoned house in the Al-Karak Governorate (same governorate where the shooting occured). Multiple units were sent to surround the compound and a sniper team was positioned nearby. The three terrorists were located on the roof through drone recon. When ordered to surrender, the terrorists refused and proceeded to open fire on the perimeter.[40] Security forces returned fire, and the confrontation quickly escalated into a shootout. Security forces then deployed FPV drones, one of which struck close to the terrorists, seriously wounding one and injuring the other two. The sniper team proceeded to suppress and pin the terrorists down, prompting one of the terrorists to throw his weapon from the roof to signal their surrender. Security personnel proceeded to breach the house and arrest all three terrorists. The directorate published footage of the operation on their social media accounts and said no security personnel were injured during the operation.
"Terrorism has no place among us," the PSD affirmed in a statement, emphasizing that those operating outside the law, faith, and shared moral standards met a swift response from law enforcement. The directorate reiterated its resolve to act decisively against any attempt to endanger national stability or citizen safety.
A search of the scene yielded a cache of more firearms, weapons, and live ammunition.
Military response
On 26 October, the Jordanian Air Force conducted strikes on neighbouring Daraa and Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria against alleged Islamic State positions, reporting that the gunmen had connections with it and claiming the assassination of 20 militants.[41] Jordan claimed that it coordinated the strikes with Syria. In contrast, the Syrian government reported the deaths of seven civilians in the strikes and denied that any prior coordination occurred.[42][43] Three children and an 80-year-old man were confirmed to be among the civilian fatalities.[44]
Reactions
Domestic
King Abdullah II condemned the shooting as a terrorist attack, vowed a strong response against the perpetrators, and emphasized Jordan's national unity. He also expressed condolences to the victims' families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.[45] Abdullah added in a tweet on X that "The blood of every Jordanian is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist anyone who dares to harm this country."[46]
The day of the attack, Abdullah visited injured survivors at Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein Military Hospital and Karak Governmental Hospital. He appeared wearing a field uniform associated with the Jordanian Special Operations Forces, with a pistol and ammunition pouches visible on his equipment. During the visit, he checked on the injured and received accounts of their experiences following the attack. He vowed that those responsible would face severe punishment, declaring that the attack would not undermine national unity. Abdullah told one of the survivors: "We'll show them".[47]
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, accompanied by several officials including the interior minister, police director, and intelligence chief, visited the Hmoud Charitable Society in the village to convey his condolences to the victims, who were called "martyrs" by the Jordan News Agency. Hassan mentioned that efforts were underway to pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice.[48] The Jordanian government declared three days of national mourning beginning on 23 October 2026, with flags flown at half-mast across government buildings and public institutions.[49]
On the evening of the attack, a solidarity vigil was held outside an Orthodox church complex in the Sweifieh area of Amman. The gathering brought together Muslim and Christian religious leaders, government officials, lawmakers, political representatives, youth organizations, and tribal leaders, who condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. Participants waved Jordanian flags, lit candles and offered prayers for those killed and injured.[50][51]
International
The attack was met with condemnation internationally, including officials from Chile,[52] Cyprus,[53] Egypt,[54] Iraq,[55] Israel,[56] Lebanon,[57] Oman,[58] Pakistan,[59] Palestine,[60] Poland,[61] Qatar,[62] Saudi Arabia,[63] Syria,[64] the United Arab Emirates,[65] and the United States.[66] Religious formations including the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem also condemned the attack.[67] The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine called on churches across Palestine to ring their bells in solidarity with Jordan and the victims of the attack, and announced a solidarity vigil in Manger Square in Bethlehem to honor those killed and express solidarity with their families.[68]
See also
- Christianity in Jordan
- Mar Elias Church attack, 2025 terrorist attack in Damascus, Syria