Eastern Orthodox Church with Byzantine heritage
Journalists and worshippers have been locked inside Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre overnight, witnessing a rare, shared space among Armenian, Catholic and Greek Orthodox traditions. The experience highlights centuries of custody arrangements and ongoing religious ritual.
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.
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.
Jordanian authorities say a security officer has died in a stabbing attack in Amman, describing it as a terrorist act. A second officer was injured, and the suspect has been arrested. The incident follows a deadly church attack in Karak and has renewed calls to review anti-terror laws.
Nine people were killed and 25 wounded when gunmen stormed a Greek Orthodox funeral in Hammoud village, Karak governorate. A Jordanian court has sentenced three attackers to death; two other men received prison terms for supplying weapons. Jordan’s Christmas celebrations have been canceled in mourning.