Jordanian government spokesman denies Aqaba evacuation orders, says no threat identified

Jordan's government spokesman said Sunday that no evacuation order was given for the Aqaba airport or seaport, and that Jordanian authorities have not identified any potential threat in recent hours. The statement directly contradicts earlier reports of a US embassy threat alert leading to evacuations.

At 13:41 Jerusalem, the Jordanian government spokesman directly contradicted earlier reports of evacuations at the Aqaba airport and seaport, stating that 'no evacuation order was received for the airport or the seaport in Aqaba, and we have not identified any potential threat in recent hours.' This latest denial, the highest-level official denial yet, follows a sequence of denials from Jordanian sources.

The thread began at 13:29 Jerusalem, when Jordanian security sources told Al Jazeera that there was no truth to the US embassy's reported claim of evacuations, and the Aqaba Ports Company CEO told Reuters that the port was operating normally and was not evacuated. At 13:36, The Zioneer reported these denials, citing both sources. The evolution of denials from anonymous security sources to the port CEO and finally the government spokesman demonstrates a consistent and escalating official rejection of the US embassy's reported alert.

As The Zioneer reported at 13:36, the initial reports of a US embassy threat alert leading to evacuations were met with immediate denials from multiple Jordanian channels. The Israeli Home Front Command has not changed its guidelines for Eilat.

The US embassy's original threat alert remains unverified, and the specific nature of any potential threat that may have prompted it has not been disclosed. The Jordanian government's denial now places the onus on the US embassy to clarify the basis of its alert.

5 developments

1. yesterday · 14:09 · 19 JulLatest

   Jordanian sources tell Al Jazeera the US evacuation claim is false.

2. 13:42 · 19 Jul

   Jordanian government confirms no potential threat identified in recent hours.

3. 13:41 · 19 Jul

   Aqaba Ports Company CEO confirms port is operating normally and not evacuated.

• Strongyesterday · 18:33 · 19 JulReport: Jordan evacuates Aqaba port and airport over US threat; Jordan denies
• Confirmedyesterday · 13:36 · 19 JulAqaba port CEO denies evacuation, says operations normal, after US Embassy threat alert
• Strong14:51 · 25 JunLebanese military source tells Al Jazeera it did not document IDF withdrawal from Lebanese territory
• Developing14:16 · 9 JulUS evacuates embassy in Jordan

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