Jordan carried out airstrikes against armed groups in Syria in retaliation for an attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Karak on Friday. The attack occurred on 23 October and struck the church during a funeral.
Nine people were killed and more than 24 others were wounded in the incident. Karak, located 90km south of Amman, is home to a minority Christian population.
Jordanian authorities arrested three Jordanian men, Hazzah Zaidan Mohammad, Mishal Zaidan Mohammad, and Ahmad Sami Hussein, following a dawn shootout. All three men were wounded and taken into custody in Karak.
The Jordanian air force stated the operation “resulted in the killing and wounding of many members of these terrorist groups and the destruction of a number of their vehicles.” Jordanian armed forces claimed the operation was conducted in coordination with Damascus.
Syria’s government launched an investigation into the Jordanian attacks, while Syrian state media reported that civilians had been killed in the strikes. At least 5 civilians were killed in Daraa, including a 65-year-old man.
King Abdullah II ordered authorities to respond with “an iron fist” and stated: “We vowed the terrorists would not escape punishment, and no proponent of dark ideologies that divide Jordanians will be tolerated.” Mazen al-Faraya described the attack as the result of “a terroristic, extremist way of thinking.”
Khaled al-Borqan stated: “Despite the profound and immense tragedy, what happened today has eased our grief, and the grief of the Jordanian people – not just for us, the families of the martyrs.” Fares Halaseh stated: “Despite the sadness and pain, the news brought us joy.”
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and the attackers’ motive remained unknown.
