Jordanian police wound three suspects during three-hour standoff in Karak

Jordanian security forces arrested three armed men on Monday after a three-hour firefight in the village of Al-Jadeeda. The suspects were hiding in an abandoned house in the Karak governorate. Police returned fire after the men refused to surrender and attacked officers.

All three suspects sustained injuries during the confrontation. A government source stated that one man is in critical condition. The Public Security Directorate confirmed that no security personnel were killed or injured. A search of the location revealed firearms and live ammunition.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani called the operation successful in a post on X. He confirmed that all three men were taken into custody after the fighting. The Interior Ministry stated that the suspects had met their just fate without naming specific groups.

The arrests follow a deadly attack on Friday. Three gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in the village of Hamoud. The village is located about 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. The Ministry of Health reported that eight people died in the shooting.

Forty people were injured in the attack. As of Monday, 27 victims remained in hospitals. The director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said one patient was in critical condition after surgery. The Karak region is home to a large portion of Jordan's Christian minority.

The Christian community includes about 300,000 of the country's 11.5 million residents. King Abdullah II promised that the attackers would face the harshest penalties. He ordered a review of national security procedures for responding to such incidents.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are reviewing why young people embrace violence. He added that anyone found to have participated in the attack would be held accountable.