Jordan has decided not to evacuate the port city of Aqaba despite American warnings about concrete threats from Yemen and Iran, according to a report. The decision was driven by concerns that an evacuation would harm Jordan's economy.
Jordan has officially declined the US recommendation to evacuate the Red Sea port of Aqaba, citing economic concerns, according to a report published Sunday. The decision comes hours after the United States evacuated its own assets from the Aqaba region and publicly warned of a specific and credible threat — a warning that a senior US official confirmed was also conveyed to Jordan. The Jordanian government, which earlier denied the existence of any threat, has now rejected the evacuation request, prioritizing the port's economic activity over the security risk.
Earlier Sunday, at 13:29 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the US Embassy in Amman announced Jordanian authorities had evacuated Aqaba's international airport and seaport in response to a specific and credible threat, advising American citizens to avoid the area. By the same time, Jordan had reportedly denied the threat's existence, while a senior US official confirmed that the US had evacuated its own assets and recommended Jordan follow suit. The thread shows a rapid escalation: from an embassy alert, to a denial by Amman, to a confirmation from a US official, and ultimately to Jordan's flat refusal to evacuate.
The Zioneer has previously reported on a series of regional threats linked to Iran and its proxies. In recent weeks, Iran warned that no oil or gas would leave the region if the US continued what Tehran called 'evil actions'; the Houthi movement in Yemen warned that continued US aggression against Iran threatens global security; and Iranian forces have continued to restrict shipping in the Strait of Hormuz despite US demands. These reports frame the Aqaba threat as part of a broader pattern of Iranian and Houthi pressure on maritime and economic infrastructure across the region.
The specific nature of the threat that prompted the US evacuation and warning remains unspecified. The US warnings have not been publicly detailed, and it is unclear whether Jordan's decision to stay put will be reassessed or remain final. The report on Jordan's refusal did not name the source of the information, leaving the degree of official confirmation uncertain.
6 developments
- StrongJordanian sources deny US embassy's Aqaba evacuation report, Al Jazeera says
- ConfirmedAqaba port CEO denies evacuation, says operations normal, after US Embassy threat alert
- DevelopingIranian strike on Aqaba was warning to Jordan over US bases, The Zioneer analysis says
- StrongIranian military source expands threat: evacuate Gulf ports as well as airports if US strikes tonight
Source and signal
- Internal intake