DOMINANT ANGLE
Doha is taking note of King Abdallah II's response and that of the Jordanian executive: a promise of "the toughest reprisals" and a call for national unity after an extremely rare attack in the kingdom.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
According to Gulf Times, the attack killed 7 people and injured 34 others who were attending a funeral at a church in Karak.
- 02
King Abdallah II described the attack as a "terrorist act" and promised it would be "followed by the toughest reprisals".
- 03
Al Jazeera reports that no claim of responsibility has been made and the authorities have not said who is responsible; two suspects are being sought.
ANALYSIS
Doha, October 24, 2026. Qatari media are reporting on the attack that occurred on Friday, October 23, in a church in the Karak governorate, in southern Jordan, first following the toll, then the response of the authorities.
Al Jazeera reports that armed men opened fire during a funeral at the Hamoud church. According to the channel, a Public Security spokesperson initially confirmed at least six dead and 28 injured, while Jordanian sources mentioned seven dead. A video from the channel then speaks of at least seven dead and 34 injured. Survivors say they heard an explosion at the beginning of the procession, before two masked men entered the church and fired. Public television Al-Mamlaka indicates that security forces are pursuing two suspects, who got out of a vehicle before firing. A witness, Khaled Burqan, describes one assailant armed with a pistol and the other with a rifle.
Al Jazeera specifies that no claim has been made and that the authorities have not designated any responsible party. It recalls that such attacks are "extremely rare" in Jordan, where Christians form a minority in a population of approximately 11.5 million inhabitants, and that Karak had already been targeted in the past.
Gulf Times devotes its article to the royal reaction. King Abdullah II described the attack as a "terrorist act" on the X network and promised that it would be "followed by the toughest reprisals". He added that "those who delude themselves into thinking they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance against our unity", affirming that all Jordanians are "partners in the land and destiny". The newspaper cites the official toll of seven dead and 34 injured.
The Minister of Communications and government spokesperson, Mohammed al-Momani, stated that the security agencies are following the situation on the ground and that information will be communicated as soon as it is verified. Security officials assure that the investigation is underway and that its conclusions will be announced as they become available.
The Qatari coverage thus remains focused on the Jordanian sequence: the established facts, the hunt for the perpetrators, then the firmness displayed by the palace and the government, without attributing the attack to a specific group.
