Jordan’s armed forces announced the activation of military and defence cooperation agreements with several “brotherly and friendly” countries after the kingdom announced that it was targeted by 119 Iranian missiles and drones which had injured 14 people.
Brigadier General Mustafa al-Hiyari said that the army had placed all formations and units on immediate alert amid the war which Israel and the US had launched against Iran.
Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones against Israel as well as what it says are US facilities in Gulf and other Middle Eastern countries.
Jordan’s military measures aim to ensure the “highest levels of readiness and preparedness to confront any potential threats,” al-Hiyari said.
He added that the armed forces had reinforced border guard units with additional equipment and activated air defence systems to intercept missiles and drones that could threaten Jordanian territory.
Al-Hiyari also said military cooperation and defence agreements with several friendly and brotherly countries had been activated “to provide the greatest possible air cover to protect the kingdom’s skies”, alongside intensified monitoring of Jordanian airspace using aircraft and radar systems.
He did not name the countries.
According to the Jordanian military, Iran targeted the kingdom with 60 missiles and 59 drones during the past week. Jordan has also stopped Iranian missiles and drones from reaching Israel.
Al-Hiyari said the Royal Jordanian Air Force managed to intercept and destroy 108 of the projectiles, while air defence systems failed to intercept 11.
He stressed that the missiles and drones were aimed at targets inside Jordan and were not merely passing through the kingdom’s airspace.
In comments cited by The New Arab’s sister outlet Al Araby Al Jadeed, al-Hiyari said the projectiles had targeted “vital facilities inside Jordan”.
Separately, Amer al-Sartawi, spokesperson for Jordan’s Public Security Directorate, said civil defence and police teams had responded to hundreds of incidents linked to falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones.
Al-Sartawi said authorities had recorded 207 reports across most of the kingdom’s governorates relating to falling objects and fragments in residential areas and open spaces.
He added that 14 people had suffered minor injuries as a result of falling debris, while damage was limited to material losses affecting a number of homes and vehicles.
According to Al Araby Al Jadeed, al-Sartawi said some injuries occurred because residents approached or handled falling objects despite security warnings.
Jordanian authorities said emergency plans had been activated and the level of readiness increased across security agencies, while civil defence teams had coordinated with the armed forces to sound warning sirens when necessary as part of precautionary measures to deal with any emergency.
