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Jordan denies U.S. claims of Aqaba port and airport evacuation due to threat

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Jordan has denied U.S. claims of an evacuation order for Aqaba's airport and port due to a supposed threat.
  • A Jordanian government spokesperson stated that Aqaba's airport and port are operating normally and that authorities have not registered any potential threats.
  • The denial contradicts an alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Amman, which cited a specific and credible threat leading to "evacuations."

Jordanian authorities have directly refuted claims made by the U.S. Embassy in Amman regarding an evacuation order for the southern city of Aqaba's airport and seaport. The embassy had issued an alert citing a "specific and credible threat" that purportedly prompted Jordanian authorities to execute evacuations.

The competent Jordanian authorities have not registered any threat potential in the last few hours.

— Mohamed MomaniThe Jordanian government spokesperson denied the U.S. Embassy's claims of a threat.

However, Jordanian government spokesperson Mohamed Momani asserted that both the King Hussein International Airport and the port of Aqaba are functioning normally. He emphasized that Jordanian authorities address potential risks according to established procedures, which include immediate siren activation, but confirmed that no potential threats have been registered in recent hours.

Official Jordanian sources speaking to state television Al Mamlaka corroborated Momani's statements. They described the information about evacuations or closures of the airport and port as false. Mahmud Khleifat, director general of the Aqaba Ports Corporation, also confirmed that port operations are proceeding without interruption and that no evacuations are taking place.

The information about an evacuation or closure of King Hussein International Airport (Aqaba) and the maritime port in the Aqaba region was false.

— Official Jordanian sourcesSources speaking to state television refuted the U.S. Embassy's alert.

This contradiction comes shortly after the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) reported the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and the disappearance of a third in Jordan following Iranian attacks. While the U.S. Embassy's alert did not specify the source of the threat, the timing is notable given the recent escalation of regional tensions and previous U.S. State Department advisories concerning security risks in Jordan.

There is no suspension of handling operations at the port.

— Mahmud KhleifatThe director general of the Aqaba Ports Corporation confirmed normal operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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