The Jordanian Armed Forces announced, on Tuesday, an increase in the Royal Air Force’s air sorties “to prevent any penetration,” in light of Israeli statements confirming the country’s intention to carry out an attack against Iran, after it was targeted by drones and missiles from Tehran.
The Armed Forces spokesman said in a statement carried by the official Petra news agency, “At approximately one o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the Royal Jordanian Air Force increased its air sorties in order to prevent any air penetration and defend the skies of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”
The statement explained, “The measure confirms Jordan’s firm position not to allow the use of Jordanian airspace by any party for any purpose, given the infringement it constitutes on Jordanian sovereignty, and what may threaten the security of the nation and the safety of its citizens.”
Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh announced, in the wake of the Iranian attack against Israel, on Sunday, that any escalation in the region will lead to “dangerous paths,” stressing that all parties will work to reduce the escalation.
Al-Khasawneh explained in comments before the Council of Ministers that the Jordanian army will confront “any attempt by any party that seeks to endanger the security of the Kingdom,” adding that “the various parties need to exercise self-restraint and deal with discipline and responsibility with the tensions that the region is going through and not be drawn into any escalation that will occur.” “It undoubtedly has serious consequences.”
On Sunday, Jordan summoned the Iranian ambassador to Amman to protest Iranian statements, which the Jordanian authorities described as “interference in the Kingdom’s internal affairs.”
Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi said in statements to Jordanian television that his country summoned Tehran’s ambassador to protest the Iranian statements published by Iranian official media in recent days, which carried a warning that Jordan would be the next target if it cooperated with Israel in confronting Iran, according to Reuters. .
The Jordanian Council of Ministers said in a statement on Sunday that “the Kingdom intercepted some flying objects that entered its airspace on Saturday evening, in order to ensure the safety of its citizens.”
Jordan summons the Iranian ambassador after the “next target” statement
On Sunday, Jordan summoned the Iranian ambassador to Amman to protest Iranian statements, which the Jordanian authorities described as “interference in the Kingdom’s internal affairs.”
On Sunday, Reuters reported, citing two regional intelligence sources, that US air defenses, along with support from Britain and France, joined Jordan on Saturday in shooting down dozens of Iranian drones and missiles that were flying over the kingdom towards a wide range of targets in the country. Israel.
They added that Iranian drones were also intercepted coming from the direction of Iraq and flying over southern Jordan and the city of Aqaba, and were heading to the Israeli port of Eilat.
In addition to Jordan… Did Arab countries contribute to repelling the Iranian attack on Israel?
Arab countries, along with the United States and other countries, contributed to repelling the Iranian attack on Israel, as the missiles were shot down before they reached Israeli airspace, according to the American Wall Street Journal.
The Jordanian King, King Abdullah II, also made clear during a phone call, on Sunday, with US President Joe Biden, that his country will not be “an arena for a regional war,” explaining that any “escalation on the part of Israel will only lead to expanding the circle of conflict.”
For his part, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy said on Monday that his country would respond to the attack launched by Iran.
Speaking from the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, which suffered some damage in an attack on Sunday, he said: “This launching of many missiles, cruise missiles and drones on Israeli territory… will be met with a response.”
The Iranian attack came in response to a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus on April 1.
This statement came amid calls for restraint on the part of allies keen to avoid escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
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