The U.S. Embassy in Amman, the capital of Jordan, reported an increase in security measures at shopping centers, foreign embassies, and other locations across the country. This action comes after a deadly attack on a church on Friday, described as a terrorist act by Jordanian officials.
Details of the Church Attack
In this attack, seven people were killed and 40 others were injured. Shooters opened fire continuously for several minutes during a funeral service at the Greek Orthodox Church in Karak province. The head of the General Security Department of Jordan stated that no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
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Reactions from Jordanian Officials
Jordanian officials emphasized that the search for identifying and apprehending the attackers is ongoing, and it is still too early to determine whether these individuals are linked to any known groups inside or outside Jordan. Meanwhile, images of police patrolling around the Hamoud Church, located southwest of Amman, have been released.
Jordan's Prime Minister, Jaafar Hassan, stated in a message on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter): "This is a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism, and we will not allow society to move in this direction." This statement reflects the government's determination to combat extremism and maintain security in the country.
International Support and Consequences
King Abdullah II of Jordan, a key U.S. partner in the fight against extremist groups, visited Karak just hours after the attack and promised that those responsible for the attack would be punished with an "iron fist." This attack has raised significant concerns in a country where the Christian population is a minority and is home to several holy sites that attract Christian pilgrims from around the world.
This year, Jordan, one of America's allies in the region, has faced Iranian attacks. This situation has arisen following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran earlier this February. These incidents highlight serious security challenges for Jordan and its allies in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
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