Capital, economic and cultural heartbeat of Jordan
A Jordan-hosted emergency meeting convenes to address escalating tensions around Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa and Christian holy sites. Arab ministers warn of potential regional instability as Israeli actions provoke protests and international scrutiny ahead of October elections.
Inquests have concluded that Claire Lomas's death from injuries sustained in a 2024 microlight crash in Jordan is accidental. The coroner notes no link to risk assessments and says investigations have yielded lessons. Lomas, a fundraising campaigner and Paralympian, was flying for an Apple-commissioned Adventure series when the aircraft crashed after aborting a landing.
A Damascus court has found Ahmad Hassoun, Syria’s former grand mufti, guilty of inciting violence and supporting the regime, delivering a life sentence and additional terms. The ruling comes amid a wave of trials against Assad-era officials as the new authorities push for accountability.
Bloomberg reports several airline moves: American Airlines is adding Philadelphia, New York, Charlotte and Chicago routes to European cities and Japan, while JFK-Tel Aviv and Newark-Luxembourg/Marseille services are expanding. These updates reflect broader network growth from major carriers.
A bus traveling between Dahab and Nuweiba in South Sinai has overturned, injuring 28 others. The Egyptian Health Ministry says 20 ambulances were dispatched to the scene; Jordanian authorities report casualties among Jordanian nationals. Authorities have not released a cause, but local media cite a tire blowout. The incident follows Egypt’s long history of deadly road crashes and underscores ongoing road-safety concerns.
Iran has claimed to have struck the US Al-Azraq base in Jordan with missiles, while Jordanian forces say 18 of 20 ballistic missiles have been intercepted, with two falling in uninhabited areas. The attack follows a broader escalation linked to US actions in the Strait of Hormuz, widening the conflict to Jordan.
The United States is finalizing a drawdown in northern Iraq, with hundreds of troops set to depart by September 30. Iraq’s government links the exit to a demand for militias to disarm, but Iran-backed groups are signaling that disarmament is unlikely and favor regulation instead. Tehran seeks to keep influence in Iraq while Baghdad weighs its options amid regional tensions.
The Pentagon inspector general has reported that Operation Epic Fury has cost $33.4 billion from 28 February to 30 June, including $22.3 billion on expended munitions. The report has found strategic inventory shortfalls, industrial bottlenecks for resupply, and millions in damage to aircraft, drones and diplomatic facilities.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation on the flight deck. The airline has said all passengers are safe and accounted for. Israeli officials have said a pilot stabbed the co-pilot and tried to sabotage the aircraft; Israeli warplanes monitored the diversion and passengers restrained the assailant.
A video shows Rabbi Dov Lando, 96, the spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, condemning Zionism and questioning Israel’s state, while also saying ultra-Orthodox service exemptions are tied to politics. The remarks come three weeks before the October 27 election and add fuel to debates over Haredi military exemptions and the government’s stability.
Gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Karak, during a funeral, killing eight or nine people and injuring dozens. Jordanian authorities describe the attack as extremist terrorism. The government has ordered security forces to pursue attackers as national mourning is observed and communities pledge unity across Muslims and Christians.
The death toll has risen to nine after a church attack in Karak, Jordan, with nearly 40 others wounded. The motive remains unknown, and authorities are pursuing leads as the government promises an iron-fisted response to terrorism.
Thousands attend funerals in Karak after a terrorist attack on St. George Greek Orthodox Church, as Jordanians unite across faiths. Crown Prince, PM and other officials vow accountability and a steadfast response to extremism; the crisis prompts nationwide mourning and calls to confront sectarianism.
Three armed men suspected of a deadly attack on St. George’s Church in Hammoud, Karak, have been arrested after a dawn shootout. Security forces sustained no injuries; victims include nine killed and several wounded. King Abdullah II has vowed punishment for the terrorists and urged unity against extremist ideologies.
Armed men linked to a Takfiri ideology have been arrested in Karak after opening fire at St George’s Greek Orthodox Church during a funeral, injuring and killing worshippers. Security forces pursued and wounded all three suspects; authorities vow to bring them to justice as Jordan observes three days of mourning.
Jordan has described air strikes against militant sites in southern Syria in response to a church attack in Karak. Syria says it coordinated with neither the strikes nor border crossing closures, and reports casualties among civilians in Daraa and Suwayda. The Nassib border crossing has been closed, and two brothers and a brother-in-law have been detained in connection with the church attack.
Jordanian air strikes on southern Syria have killed civilians and damaged homes, triggering Syria’s condemnation for sovereignty violations. Damascus says the strikes targeted IS cells and weapons depots, while Amman cites threats and terrorist activity. The two sides are coordinating to manage fallout and preserve bilateral ties.
The cross-border strikes by Jordan into southern Syria have killed civilians and prompted Syria to condemn the action as a sovereignty violation. Jordan and Syria agree to form a joint security committee to investigate the strikes and to strengthen border coordination as both sides seek to avoid further civilian harm.
Arab News reports a fragmented vote left Netanyahu's bloc with 53 seats and Eisenkot's 48, with Palestinian parties holding 19 seats. Neither side has a majority, forcing tense coalition negotiations and the possibility of new elections within months.