Amman — More than eight years after the “Salt terrorist operation,” carried out in the summer of 2018 by a cell ideologically linked to ISIS, Jordan is once again confronting terrorism after four terrorists opened fire with automatic and individual firearms on civilians inside a church in Hamoud village, Karak Governorate, during the funeral of a woman.
The brutal attack resulted in the martyrdom of nine people and injuries to around 40 others. Some of the injured have since been discharged from hospital, while others remain under medical care.
Experts specializing in counterterrorism said the brutal attack represents a new pattern of terrorism unfamiliar to Jordanians in terms of the target, location and method of attack.
For the first time, a church was targeted in a terrorist attack of this nature, following a history in which places of worship in the Kingdom had not previously been subjected to such attacks. The attack was also timed to coincide with the funeral of a deceased woman in the middle of a quiet village.
The experts stressed that the operation cannot be separated from the instability and security and political turmoil affecting the region and neighboring countries.
They emphasized that Jordan has maintained its stability and security since the establishment of the modern state despite being surrounded by turbulent neighbors, while the Kingdom’s kings have consistently maintained political and diplomatic positions supporting Arab causes, particularly the Palestinian cause.
They noted that the attack on Hamoud Church, which unfolded dramatically two days ago, may have been intended to destabilize the country and sow division among its people.
However, the response of Jordanian society was one of strong condemnation, demonstrating the cohesion and solidarity of Jordanians and their rejection of any attempt to undermine their unity, the unity of their country and its territory, or target any component of their cohesive and stable society.
Experts pointed out that since the 1990s, Jordan has faced an almost continuous campaign by extremist ideologies, involving individuals and cells affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations or lone actors ideologically connected to groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Jordan was among the first countries in the world to pursue terrorist organizations and bring their members to justice. Despite terrorist groups establishing strongholds in neighboring Arab countries experiencing instability, Jordan remained free of such strongholds, and no organization has succeeded in establishing a base there.
Within this framework, Jordanian security agencies, which have developed exceptional capabilities in detecting and dismantling terrorist cells, have played a major role in protecting Jordan and its citizens by foiling hundreds of terrorist operations planned by extremists sent from outside the Kingdom or by supporters of organizations espousing extremist ideology.
In most cases, security agencies succeeded in dismantling these cells and groups before they could carry out their criminal plans.
Terrorist plots typically identify specific targets for attacks, including places of worship, military and security facilities, or attempts to assassinate security officials. They may also target vital infrastructure.
When extremists fail to attack their intended targets, they may turn to civilian facilities, including tourist sites, which are often easier targets, as occurred in the 2005 Amman bombings.
Three Stages in Jordan’s War on Terrorism
Experts say Jordan has gone through three major stages in its fight against terrorism and the environments that support it.
The first began in the early 1990s, when a group of what were described as Afghan veterans returning from Afghanistan formed terrorist cells to carry out attacks on Jordanian soil.
After members of these cells were dismantled and subjected to severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, the second stage emerged following the fall of the Iraqi regime in 2003 and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
At the time, what became known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq emerged, and Jordanian security agencies succeeded in dismantling dozens of terrorist plots linked to the organization before they could be carried out in Jordan.
Among the most prominent attacks carried out by members of Al-Qaeda in Iraq were the Amman hotel bombings, which resulted in the martyrdom of 57 people and injuries to another 100. The perpetrators were also killed. The group also carried out terrorist bombings in Aqaba.
The third stage began after ISIS emerged in Iraq and Syria in 2014. Its members exploited the instability and political turmoil in both countries.
Since ISIS began carrying out its crimes, it attempted to launch dozens of terrorist operations in Jordan, most of which were foiled by Jordanian security agencies. However, lone actors ideologically affiliated with the group carried out several limited attacks, most notably in Irbid, Karak and Salt.
Regional Spillover
Hassan Abu Hanieh, an expert on Islamist movements, defines terrorism as an attempt to destabilize society and spread fear in pursuit of political or ideological objectives.
He said Jordan has always been affected by developments in neighboring countries and the instability surrounding it. The repercussions of regional turmoil therefore tend to reach Jordan.
According to Abu Hanieh, Jordanians have faced three waves of terrorism, the most severe of which was the rise of ISIS.
He said one of the main reasons terrorist operations and cells emerge is that Jordan remains stable despite the instability of its surroundings. This stability is linked to the strength and legitimacy of the political system, the experience of security agencies in combating terrorism, the unity of Jordanian society and the unique cohesion of the domestic front.
Abu Hanieh noted that countries surrounding Jordan continue to experience instability and tensions. He said the war in Gaza has contributed to the emergence of cells that intended to carry out terrorist operations in the Kingdom, alongside developments arising from conflicts involving neighboring states.
He pointed to the U.S.-Iran crisis, the Saudi conflict with the Houthis, the Syrian crisis in southern Syria along Jordan’s northern border, Israeli threats to displace Palestinians from the West Bank, incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, the escalating attacks and killings of Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza, and attempts to annex the West Bank.
Abu Hanieh said Jordan continues to live in a turbulent regional environment, but the cohesion of its domestic front provides Jordanians with stability and calm.
He noted that the terrorist crime in Karak marks the first time a place of worship in Jordan has been targeted in a terrorist attack.
While places of worship have previously been targeted in countries near Jordan, no Jordanian place of worship had previously been subjected to a terrorist attack. This raises questions about the objectives and motives behind the crime, particularly as the response demonstrated strong social cohesion through widespread condemnation and the arrest of those responsible.
Spreading Fear and Chaos
Retired Major General Azzam Al-Rawajneh said terrorist organizations often target locations situated within communities considered safe and secure, as happened at Hamoud Church.
Such attacks are intended to spread fear and chaos, create divisions and fragment society. They can also be used as a means of attracting individuals with extremist tendencies.
Al-Rawajneh said Jordan has been fighting terrorism since the assassination attempt against King Abdullah I. He described Jordan as one of the first countries to warn of the growing threat of terrorism in the region and around the world, adding that the Kingdom has been at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts.
Jordanian security agencies have dismantled most terrorist organizations that attempted to carry out criminal plots on Jordanian soil, he said, and have also pursued such organizations in their strongholds outside the Kingdom.
He described the targeting of a church as a place of worship as a new pattern in the terrorist attacks facing Jordan.
He said the turbulent regional environment, together with King Abdullah II’s support for Palestine and his firm political opposition to Israeli plans, have contributed to attempts by those who oppose these positions to confront Jordan through terrorist networks.
These factors, he added, have driven extremists to reorganize and carry out attacks aimed at destabilizing Jordanian society and creating divisions.
Al-Rawajneh stressed that Jordan is a key player in the fight against terrorism, particularly in confronting extremist ideology, making it a target for terrorists. He also pointed to Jordan’s political positions supporting regional stability, particularly its support for the Palestinian cause.
He said the terrorist attack targeting Hamoud Church ultimately made Jordanians more united, and that its planners and perpetrators failed to achieve their objectives of provoking sectarian tensions and dividing society.
Jordanians, he said, have repeatedly demonstrated an outstanding model of social cohesion in such circumstances.
Undermining the Economy and Investment
Retired Brigadier General Dr. Saud Al-Sharafat said terrorists seek to deliver specific messages aimed at undermining social cohesion or damaging the economy and investment.
He said what happened at Hamoud Church was an attempt to strike at national unity. Targeting places of worship is intended to destabilize the domestic front and create sectarian divisions.
However, he said, this objective has not and will not be achieved because of the rapid official and popular response, which united in confronting the crime and adopted a common position rejecting terrorism.
Al-Sharafat added that Jordan is politically and security-wise stable and socially cohesive, with its unity strengthening whenever any part of its territory or any member of its population comes under attack.
He explained that the repercussions of regional instability sometimes reach Jordan in the form of terrorist operations.
The perpetrators of the church attack, he said, encountered a high level of public awareness and resistance to extremist ideology. In addition, Jordan has security agencies with decades of experience in combating terrorism and dealing with such groups and others.
He noted that Jordanian security agencies have been fighting terrorism for decades and have dealt with a large number of terrorist operations.
Source: Al-Ghad
