Jordan Foils Alleged Plot Against National Security: 16 Arrested

Amid increasing regional instability, Jordan has arrested 16 individuals suspected of orchestrating a national security threat involving weapons and drone manufacturing, signaling ongoing challenges to stability within the kingdom.

The Jordanian security services announced on Tuesday that they had apprehended 16 suspects accused of plotting serious threats to national security. The General Intelligence Department disclosed that this plan, reportedly years in the making, involved the production of rockets, assembly of explosives, and the training of combatants both within Jordan and abroad.

This incident marks a rare admission of potential threats to a nation regarded as one of the most stable countries in the tumultuous Middle East. For years, Jordan has been an essential ally for Western powers in their efforts to counter Islamist militants and to act as a mediator in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the kingdom, which has a significant Palestinian demographic, is facing growing internal unrest, particularly in light of its recent support for Israeli military actions during the ongoing war with Gaza.

Jordan's security apparatus has been active in trying to maintain its stability at a time when tensions have risen due to the ongoing conflict. The General Intelligence Department stressed that it had been monitoring the suspects since 2021, hinting at a connection to an earlier attempted palace coup which saw King Abdullah II accusing his brother, Hamzah, of destabilizing efforts allegedly backed by foreign powers. In that instance, 14 individuals were arrested related to the internal turmoil.

The specifics of the recent plot are alarming, as the authorities revealed intentions to manufacture missiles locally, as well as to smuggle weapons and explosives into Jordan. Moreover, the suspects aimed to conceal operational missiles, initiate drone production, and recruit and train individuals for combat within and outside the borders of Jordan. According to Reuters, there are indications that these arrests may be linked to Hamas, particularly since the onset of the conflict between Israel and this Palestinian group. Jordan has been actively countering Iranian efforts to funnel arms through its territory to Palestinian militant factions, especially those located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

As the situation in Gaza escalates and regional instability rises, Jordan’s internal security apparatus faces critical challenges to uphold national peace amid external pressures.