Jordan strikes southern Syria after Karak church attack
Jordan says its air force hit militant hideouts in southern Syria, citing links to the Karak church attackers; Damascus says it is investigating
Christian World | Jordan says its air force hit militant hideouts in southern Syria, citing links to the Karak church attackers; Damascus says it is investigating
ACW | October 27, 2026 — Jordan's armed forces said on Monday, October 26, that the air force struck "militant hideouts" in southern Syria, saying those behind the deadly Karak church attack were linked to "terrorist groups" there, Reuters reported.
The army described the operation as coordinated with Damascus. Syrian authorities initially made no comment, Reuters said.
A Syrian health official later told state news agency SANA that five civilians, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. Jordan had no immediate comment on that claim, according to Reuters. The Syrian government said it had opened an investigation and stressed the importance of field and security coordination in border areas.
On Friday, October 23, gunmen fired for several minutes during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, about 120 km southwest of Amman. Nine people were killed and at least 34 wounded, Reuters reported. No group has claimed responsibility.
On Monday, police arrested two brothers and a relative by marriage in Karak governorate after an exchange of fire. Public Security Director Maj. Gen. Obeidallah al-Maaytah said the suspects "only represent themselves". Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said the investigation was continuing and there were no signs of links to other cells.
Published reports do not make clear what evidence the army has for the alleged links to groups in Syria, or why security officials spoke of no links to other cells.
Background: ACW has previously reported on the arrest of three suspects in the Karak church attack and Jordan's three days of national mourning.
Why it matters: The attack on a church funeral, which killed nine and wounded at least 34 according to Reuters, has put the safety of Christian communities in Jordan and freedom of religion or belief in the region in focus. Statements by the army and by security officials on the attackers' possible outside links have not yet been aligned.
ACW will continue to follow this story.
Photo: Keith David Pearson / Pexels (illustrative; a church in Jordan)
