Jordan has gone on highest alert over fears of an invasion by Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militias, Saudi media report. The kingdom informed Iraq that the Hashd al-Shaabi militia is planning an attack on its territory, following a directive from Iran. The reports come amid a multi-front military escalation in the Middle East, centered on a direct confrontation between the US-led coalition and Iran.
Jordan has declared its highest alert level, Saudi media report, amid fears of an invasion by Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militias. The kingdom informed Iraq that the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, acting on Iranian instructions, is planning an attack on Jordanian territory. This development comes just hours after a series of warnings from Amman and Damascus.
The alert follows a series of regional warnings. On Saturday at 19:43 Jerusalem, as The Zioneer reported, a Jordanian official told Al-Arabiya that the kingdom had warned Iraq it would strike Iranian-backed militias if attacked, and had transferred intelligence on militia plans. Later that night, at 23:14 Jerusalem, Syria also warned Iraq that any attack launched from Iraqi territory would draw a response, and separately alerted Baghdad about suspicious Shiite militia activity near the border.
The United States had earlier issued security warnings to its citizens across the Middle East, including in Jordan, as the region braces for a major US-led campaign against Iran. As The Zioneer reported on Saturday at 19:13 Jerusalem, US embassies in 10 Middle Eastern countries updated their security guidance. Additionally, US and Saudi forces conducted joint airstrikes against Hashd al-Shaabi positions in Iraq on Wednesday, July 29, killing at least 10 operatives, according to reports.
The current escalation highlights the risk of a multi-front conflict, with Iran's proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen potentially coordinating responses. No official confirmation has been provided by Jordanian or Iraqi authorities regarding the specific plan reported by Saudi media.
2 developments
- StrongSaudi demand for Iraqi sovereignty faces militia indifference, NYT and analyst report
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia warns its citizens of an expected Iranian attack
- StrongShiite militias in Iraq incite against Saudi Arabia, call for invasion
- DevelopingHananel Aviv: Iraqi Shiite Militias Join Houthis in Striking Saudi Oil Targets
Source and signal
- Open-source intake