For half a century, the Jordanian state has been locked in a relentless, back-and-forth war against terrorist organizations. This prolonged conflict has allowed Jordan to institutionalize its counterterrorism efforts, transforming the fight against terror into a cornerstone of its domestic national security while exporting its expertise to neighboring and Western countries.
In addition to Jordanian expertise in the war on terror, which formed the core of regional cooperation, there is massive, advanced counterterrorism cooperation with the United States. This partnership was most recently highlighted by the announcement of an advanced joint center established nearly a decade ago.
This is because Jordanian security is a vital cornerstone for both the region and the world. Terrorists are well aware of this reality; in fact, they have explicitly stressed the need to fracture Jordan’s stability by employing two mechanisms. The first entails targeting state assets and attempting security and intelligence breaches to carry out large-scale operations that facilitate access to vital targets.
The second strikes at national cohesion. Immediately following the announcement of the Karak crime, some voices began stoking tribal divisions in Jordan - a malicious terrorist ploy, even though Jordanian coexistence among tribes and religions remains unbreakable. Far more dangerous, however, were those who sought to exploit the symbolism of the crime's location, a church, and its day, Friday. These maneuvers are the ploys of ideological and media terrorism, which run parallel to lethal, bloody field terrorism.
A close examination of the nature of the terrorist crime reveals that it was executed using methods standard to terrorist organizations, mirroring dozens of operations carried out in Arab countries, as well as in Türkiye, Russia, and Europe. It follows the "lone wolf" tactic, which relies on rapid intelligence to deliver precise, devastating strikes.
Regardless of whether the terrorist organization possesses an established history like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, or if we are witnessing newborn organizations bearing the same ideology but with evolving members, structures, and rhetoric shaped by regional developments, the name matters little. The core unifying and founding element among these groups remains closely aligned and practically identical, as every organization, with every passing decade or more, proves capable of giving birth to its counterpart.
While the history of terrorism in the region and the world shares certain similarities, it follows a specific strategy in each country based on the organization's objectives. Because Jordan possesses a unique geographic location and an unparalleled importance to regional countries, it has been a priority for terrorists who have attempted to find any loophole to exploit. In other words, any terrorist success in Jordan means a successful strike against all of its regional and global allies. For this reason, the Karak incident was described as an "earthquake," as it did not merely target a church, but rather served as a declaration of the "re-emergence" of violence after years of "tactical latency."
These terrorist groups found a golden opportunity to reorganize their ranks and declare their re-emergence within the regional conflict that began around six months ago, triggered by the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent repercussions on neighboring countries.
With the escalation of Houthi terrorism, these groups found that all conditions were ripe to launch an attack on the quickest possible target. Their selection of Jordan carried both strategic and organizational dimensions, as the crime conveys two messages: first, that it was executed within a Jordan that is heavily fortified and resilient - both security-wise and socially - against terrorism; and second, that underground and overt organizations, regardless of their sectarian affiliations, will not leave the Houthis isolated, but will instead support them in their bloody terrorist practices.
The "Karak" crime must be deeply scrutinized, along with its expected repercussions on other countries. Terrorism is currently celebrating the reorganization of its ranks, announcing its departure from the caves to the battlefields, which demands that we confront it with utmost strength and resolve. A painful incident like the Karak massacre, with hallmarks that entirely point to organized terrorist involvement, demands our total vigilance. Terrorism sheds its skin at the turn of every decade or two, appearing under new names and varied banners, but its catastrophic, bloody ideologies remain exactly the same.
Comprehensive readiness is the ideal path to safeguarding our nations from these cunning beasts and rogue organizations. And God is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of those who show mercy.
