The wording used by the US Embassy in Jordan on Sunday, when it issued its second warning to its citizens in the Kingdom and the region, is once again ambiguous, and suggests that Jordan, at least, could become a preferred target for Iranian Revolutionary Guard missiles in the next few days if the atmosphere of war escalates again.
The US Embassy in Amman used the phrase “specific and credible threat” when it announced the evacuation of King Hussein Airport and the port in the southern city of Aqaba, as part of a series of rapid and urgent security precautions that followed the official announcement of the killing of two US soldiers and the disappearance of a third at a military base in Jordanian territory, with dozens of soldiers injured and several helicopters destroyed.
The US embassy again asked its citizens to avoid the port and airport in Aqaba, gatherings in Amman and other cities, and to listen to the instructions of the Jordanian internal security, while everyone noticed that it is the embassy that announces closures here, not the Jordanian government, which raises questions again after Iran decided to clearly include Jordan with Kuwait and Bahrain in the map of permanent targeting in response to the American missiles.
Independent local sources informed Al-Quds Al-Arabi that the American casualties appeared to have resulted from an Iranian missile, with unclear guidance, striking dormitories and residences where American soldiers were staying in the Mafraq area.
There is no official Jordanian information, as of Sunday afternoon, about the locations and circumstances of the killing and wounding of several American soldiers.
However, independent local sources informed Al-Quds Al-Arabi that the American losses in soldiers appeared to have resulted from an Iranian missile, with mysterious guidance, managing to strike dormitories and residences where American soldiers were staying in the Mafraq region in the east of the country.
The military sensitivity of the file prevents further logistical disclosures.
But direct American talk of a specific and credible threat to the city of Aqaba exclusively, where the airport and port are located, suggests that the scope of military operations may escalate through mutual targeting of infrastructure and not just military targets.
It also implicitly suggests that the expansion of military operations may follow the Iranians’ ability to strike residential and sleeping quarters, while the precaution in Aqaba specifically may be a prelude to preventing any impact in the event that the Yemeni Houthi movement enters the line of engagement through their military arms in the Red Sea.
Jordanian authorities immediately placed vital sectors on emergency status and are preparing for all scenarios.
The impression in Amman is that the killing of American soldiers may constitute a turning point not only in the American military escalation against Iran, but also in the Iranian response aimed at raising the cost of hosting or keeping American forces in neighboring countries.
Jordan, following the developments in the American soldiers’ dreams incident, is in a state of anticipation and is monitoring all the data. Official statements are still limited to a general explanation of air defense operations only, without addressing either the details or the political implications.
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