Watan-The “Times of Israel” newspaper claimed that Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein requested during a weekend phone call with US President Joe Biden that Israel refrain from using Jordanian airspace in a retaliatory attack against Iran.
The Hebrew newspaper attributed this information to three informed officials, according to its description.
The report continued that due to the importance of the Hashemite Kingdom “for the Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza,” it can be said that Jordan was the most famous member of the American-led alliance, which joined the occupation army in intercepting more than 300 rockets and drones launched by Iran on occupied territories last Saturday.
Jordan Between Iranian and Israeli Responses
However, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi later insisted that Amman would protect its skies, “regardless of where those drones come from – Israel, Iran, or anyone else.”
In addition to this public warning to Israel, Jordan also privately sent messages to the occupation through the United States and other countries urging it to take a different path if it proceeded with its plans to attack Iran, according to a senior Arab diplomat, an Israeli official, and a Biden administration official speaking to the “Times of Israel.”
While it is unlikely that Jordan would actually shoot down an Israeli drone, missile, or aircraft entering its airspace, Amman fears that allowing such a strike, especially after assisting in thwarting the Iranian attack, would expose it to revenge from Tehran, according to officials.
Iran has threatened the Hashemite Kingdom that it would be the next target if it moved against Iran in the aftermath of the Iranian strike.
The “Times of Israel” report concluded that Israel could transit through Syria to strike Iran, but the faster and more practical route would start through Jordan, given its diplomatic relations with Amman, and considering that Jordan is unlikely to inform Iran of an imminent attack.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment from the Hebrew newspaper.