A deadly gunfight breaks out near the Israeli embassy in Jordan, escalating tensions in the region. Watch the video for more details.
According to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), a shootout near the Israeli Embassy in Amman around dawn resulted in injuries to three law enforcement officers on Sunday. The suspected gunman was shot and killed.
According to the agency, referencing Jordan’s Public Security Directorate, the incident began when the suspect fired at a police patrol and then tried to escape.
According to Petra, officers exchanged gunfire with the attacker, resulting in the gunman’s death.
The sound of loud gunfire reverberated through the neighborhood, while videos shared on social media allegedly depicting the incident showed numerous emergency services vehicles present at the scene.
According to the news agency, three law enforcement officers were injured in the attack and have been transported to the hospital with moderate injuries.
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Since October 7, 2023, Amman has witnessed several pro-Palestinian protests due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. A large portion of Jordan’s population of approximately 11.5 million is Palestinian, with many having connections across the Jordan River in the nearby West Bank. UNRWA reports indicate that there are at least 2.39 million registered Palestinian refugees residing in Jordan.
The Israeli ambassador to Amman departed the country at the onset of the Gaza war, following a deadly Hamas raid on October 7, 2023, due to security concerns. In November last year, Jordan recalled its own ambassador in protest against West Jerusalem’s military actions in the besieged enclave.
Israel’s National Security Council travel advisory service has labeled Jordan as having the highest threat level for Israelis due to terrorist threats. The government website advises, “Travel to this country is not permitted and those who are currently there must depart immediately.”
