jordan tourism news

‘We saw an immediate drop’: Jordan’s tourism industry is suffering amid the Israel-Hamas war

Jordan’s economy relies heavily on tourism but since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October and the ongoing war in Gaza, tourism in the country has slowed down. This is also the case in other countries in the region, including Israel itself, Lebanon and Egypt.

• By Shirin Jaafari

A general view of the ancient city of Jerash, north of the capital Amman, Jordan, Dec. 6, 2023. Jerash is one of the most popular attractions in Jordan behind Petra. It is considered one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside of Italy, and its history goes back more than 6,500 years.

The ancient Roman ruins of Jerash, on the outskirts of Amman, Jordan, represent one of the best-preserved Roman cities.

Here, gladiators once competed in chariot-racing contests as spectators watched from the stone seats.

Dhirar Atmeh grew up in the area.

“When I used to come, and you know, see people come in as tourists, I said ‘this is my thing. This is where I should go,’” he said.

Atmeh has been working as a tour guide in Jordan for the past two decades. He said that nothing brings him more joy than telling foreign visitors about the long history and the splendor of this site.

But these are tough times for Atmeh and the thousands of others who work in the tourism industry in Jordan and neighboring countries. The war in Gaza has brought his business to a near standstill, he said: “I lost 80% of my job. I mean 80% of my reservations were canceled.”

Tours from the US, Europe and Australia were canceled one after another. People stopped coming.

Atmeh has five kids and he said he’s struggling to provide for them. For him, what’s happening now brings back difficult memories of the early days of the pandemic, when he lost most of his assets.

“I had a car. I had to sell it. I had a house, I sold it. Many things … I had a piece of land also I sold. So, it wasn’t easy.”

Atmeh said that he’s worried about the weeks and months ahead, as there seems to be no end to the fighting.

Already, Jordan’s unemployment rate, as of last year, was about 23%, according to the World Bank.

If tourists don’t come back, he said, it’s not like he can just find another job.

Tours here are typically part of a package that includes Jordan, Israel and Egypt. Conflict in one of them means that people cancel their whole trip.

Ben Julius is the founder of Tourist Israel, one of the largest tour agencies in Israel.

“From the beginning of the war, we saw an immediate drop, close to zero, from what was expected to be one of the best and busiest periods ever.”

In Israel, flights have been canceled, tourist sites have been closed and hotels have been empty .

“It’s been very difficult for us. Around 70% of our team — we immediately had to send to furlough again. Many of them only came back into the tourism industry and back into the company in the last year because of the recovery from COVID.”

Julius operates tours in Egypt as well, and he said that they’ve had many cancellations there, too.

In Lebanon, the Christmas season is also shaping up to be a loss this year .

Juliuis is seeing signs of improvement for next year. He said that people are booking their trips in advance.

“That’s giving us a little bit of hope going into next year.”

Meanwhile, back in Jordan, the minister of tourism, Makram Mustafa Queisi, predicts an even bigger drop in the number of tourists in the coming months if the war doesn’t stop.

“The problem is that people in the West and elsewhere, actually, when they look at the map, they don’t differentiate between Jordan and the neighboring countries. People don’t understand that we are not in a war zone.”

He said he wants to change that perception and help people understand that Jordan is a safe place to visit. When tourists don’t come, he said, that affects a wide swath of the economy.

“We talk about the bus drivers for example, we speak about restaurants, we speak about hotels, we speak about the tour operators, and the people who work with the tour operators.”

For tourism to survive, he said, this region needs stability and security.

“This aggression has to stop because at the end of the day there’s no winner.”

In the meantime, Jordan is using this unexpected break in tourism to renovate some of its historical sites.

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Jordan to regain pre-pandemic tourism momentum after the “kingdom of time” brand launch

The Kingdom of Jordan is set to regain its spectacular pre-pandemic tourism momentum after the launch of its multifaceted new tourism brand last November.

Jordan is reintroducing itself as an accessible, intriguing and multifaceted destination that appeals to the rising global tribe of intrepid travelers; independent, active, digital-empowered explorers and travelers seeking meaningful experiences and human connection.

Beyond the world wonder of Petra, the Jordanian experience has been getting global attention for award-winning nature spots and adventures like the Jordan Trail; that traverses the Kingdom from north to south offering views of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea at the planet’s lowest point. Amman for its urban and town tourism, attracting seekers of authentic flavors to enjoy the mosaic of Arabic culinary delights of the Jordanian kitchen.

In early 2020, the COVID pandemic brought to an abrupt halt what was already a remarkable multi-year acceleration and diversification of Jordanian tourism. With the Kingdom becoming easily accessible through low cost airlines, Jordan was shaking off its traditional “history lesson” positioning, and a new generation of Jordanian tourism innovators was adding exciting new layers of experiences to Jordan’s majestic ancient landscapes. With COVID being an international pandemic affecting us all worldwide, the tourism sector was one of the first sectors to be negatively impacted and most certainly will be the last to recover. 

Jordan worked with a great partnership between the public and private sectors in the tourism industry to put together international standard SOPs for all of its tourism sectors, along with being one of the leading countries in the region when it came to the vaccination of the tourism sector, preparing for the recovery process. It has also introduced local incentives to stimulate the economy and programs such as (Istidama – Sustain) that helped secure the tourism sectors employees along with the Jordanian Social Security.

“Jordan is back, delighted to have launched its new tourism brand, as an authentic reflection of a destination which can be considered as a miniature continent when it comes to its diverse landscapes, fuses together a dizzying collage of geological natural and urban diversity, historical richness, a tradition of spirituality and faith, and a contemporary Arabian culture of openness  and warm hospitality that welcomes everyone for leisure, business and healing,” said Nayef Al-Fayez, Jordan’s Minister of Tourism.

If humanity has learned anything from the pandemic, it is a redefined sense of time, making Jordan’s core brand promise as ‘The Kingdom of Time’ even more relevant today: a place where one can literally touch both geological time and human history, where time can accelerate in a bustling city center, slow down during a dive of Aqaba’s Red Sea underwater coral forests, or even come to a total standstill in the deserts of Wadi Rum, under a clear starry sky unveiling the Milky Way.

“Jordan’s new tourism brand that was launched last November along with the new national tourism strategy that was also launched a few weeks ago taps into targeting new age groups of tourists planning their travel, with the new low-cost carrier flights to Jordan from Europe we hope to bounce back faster than we expected. Ryanair has launched new routes to Jordan including a new route that was inaugurated last November from Adolf Suarez Madrid Airport that is key for the Spanish traveler including the current national carrier Royal Jordanian flights, along with Jordan signing new agreements with Wizzair and new routes launched by EasyJet into southern Jordan – Aqaba” said Dr Abdel Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board.

Beyond brand building, Jordan’s government and tourism business have worked diligently to ensure the health & safety of citizens and guests. The Kingdom’s successful efforts at preventing a first COVID wave made global headlines in 2020. “Today we are one of the first countries in the region with a fully vaccinated tourism sector” added Al-Fayez.

Jordan will be present at the Fitur 2022 edition with a 232 square meter booth that will showcase a combination of Amman's modern and ancient architecture, and reflect the new brand. The participation of (Turismo de Jordania) will be accompanied by 19 co-exhibitors from Jordan, Royal Jordanian (our national carrier), as well as hoteliers who seek to resume commercial contacts with the Spanish tourism sector that are committed to the destination.

Our stand at Fitur: 4E08, Hall 4.

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Jordan presents rich mix of culture and adventure after successful year for tourism industry

The jordan tourism board is expecting an even stronger year for its tourism industry in 2023, the newly appointed minister of tourism and antiquities, h.e. makram mustafa a. queisi, explains how jordan’s new campaign “kingdom of time” has successfully repositioned the country as a year-round destination..

How is Jordan’s tourism industry performing in the first quarter of 2023? January 2023 brought excellent news for Jordan’s tourism industry, as the country witnessed a significant surge in the number of overnight stay tourists. There was a remarkable increase of 189.5% in the number of tourists from North America, an 82.2% increase from Germany and a noteworthy 202.5% increase from the whole of Europe, compared to January 2022. These numbers indicate a growing interest in Jordan as a travel destination. With its rich history, culture, and natural beauty, there is no shortage of reasons for tourists to visit, and we anticipate that this positive trend will continue throughout  the year.

What are the results of your campaign ‘Kingdom of Time’? The launch of the new brand for Jordan happened back at the end of 2021 and since then all our marketing campaigns have been focusing on this new slogan. Our latest European outdoor campaign reached 8 countries across more than 20 different media types, from taxis or buses to billboards and electronic screens. We also promoted “Jordan, Kingdom of Time” during the World Cup in Qatar reaching millions of viewers worldwide. We now prepare more creative campaigns for 2023.

Which segments of Jordan’s tourism industry saw the most growth and why? Jordan’s tourism industry is centred on its rich history and culture, with tens of thousands of archaeological sites within a small geographic space. Visitors can then explore the many layers of Jordan’s history. Jordan is of course home to Petra, one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, and popular filming location for many Hollywood films. This, along with other cultural gems such as Jerash, Madaba and UNESCO World Heritage site As-Salt, make Jordan an attractive destination for history and culture lovers.

Adventure tourism has also grown in popularity in recent years, with hiking, climbing, and diving attracting many visitors. Faith tourism is another growing segment with religious pilgrims of different faiths visiting places such as Mount Nebo and the Baptism Site, both believed to be linked to the Bible.

What makes Jordan such an attractive destination for adventure tourists? There are several reasons. Firstly, visitors have the opportunity to engage with local community-based service providers who ensure a unique experience. Secondly, Jordan’s rich natural and geological diversity on a small territory allows visitors to explore various natural biospheres in a single day. Travellers will see deserts, savannah, rivers, beaches or high mountains. Last, history is always present as thanks to the abundance of sites. While hiking through remote areas such as the Shobak mountains or the north, they discover century-old monasteries or come across archaeological vestiges. They all add value to any adventure in Jordan.

Jordan has been prioritising local experiences that allow visitors to interact with locals, rather than just focusing on traditional tourist attractions.

How are you engaging local actors and communities in Jordan’s tourism industry? Our new brand focuses on local communities and products. We have created more content to promote these communities, especially for adventure tourists along the Jordan Trail. Local experiences can now be booked digitally thanks to JTB’s collaboration with digital search engines such as VIAVII, Expedia and Tripadvisor.

What is the key message you are giving at ITB Berlin? By launching the ‘Kingdom of Time’ brand, we focus on positioning Jordan as a year-round destination, rather than just a seasonal one. This has involved targeting low cost carriers from Europe to attract a larger number of tourists, particularly young generations such as Gen Z and Millennials.

In addition, Jordan has been prioritizing local experiences that allow visitors to interact with locals, rather than just focusing on traditional tourist attractions such as Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba. We now highlight the lesser-known attractions in the north, such as Ajloun, Jerash, As-Salt and Madaba, not forgetting Amman where we encourage tourists to stay longer.

Why is it important for the industry to meet face to face at ITB Berlin? Tourism is all about experiencing something new, and this is exactly what occurs at a face-to-face meeting. In attending ITB Berlin 2023, we are thrilled to be back and see high demand for Jordan. This exhibition provides us with even more opportunities to network and connect with others in the industry. We believe that it is crucial for travel professionals to attend ITB, as it is a platform to connect, share knowledge and develop partnerships. As we say, “ahlan wa sahlan” – you are welcome in Jordan!

Jordan ‘chasing’ medical and wellness segment

Medical and wellness tourism to Jordan is gaining popularity, especially in neighbouring Arab countries. Jordan is already well-known for its spa and wellness centres at the Dead Sea, which offer a range of treatments and therapies aimed at promoting physical and mental well-being. The benefits from Dead Sea bathing are attributed to the high level of minerals and natural tar in the water. These are said to increase the rate of skin cell growth.

Now, Jordan is turning into a regional hub for medical tourism, offering affordable, high-quality medical services to patients seeking treatments such as organ transplants, IVF procedures as well as dental and cosmetic surgery.

Sustainability and diversity at heart of Jordan’s tourism industry

Sustainability and diversity are critically important for Jordan. “All of us are committed to working towards these goals, as they are essential for the protection and preservation of our unique cultural and natural resources,” says Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E. Makram Mustafa A. Queisi. Measures to reduce the environmental impact of tourism activities were adopted along with regulation protecting natural resources, but also encouraging hotels and resorts to adopt sustainable practices such as energy and water conservation and waste management.

Promoting inclusivity and diversity also ensure that the tourism benefits everyone. JTB has taken steps to promote diversity in its workforce, giving opportunities to marginalised communities to participate in the industry. JTB also ensures that tourism experiences are easily accessible for travellers with disabilities.  

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Jordan’s tourism dependency hits its limits

The authorities touted a tourism boom until covid-19 crashed the party, businesses in jordan's petra struggle for survival in second year of covid-19.

Driving from Amman to Jordan’s famous historic site of Petra was a dangerous escapade until the government fixed most of the tarmac in the past four years.

Encouraging tourism was a main goal behind repairing the potholes, hidden curves, sudden dips and broken pavement.

But the 4,000 to 5,000 hotel rooms in the Petra region have been mostly empty since the coronavirus struck. Jordan confirmed its first case in March last year.

Jordan's once bustling ancient city of Petra has been crippled by Covid-19.

“Jordan bet on tourism and lost,” said Raed Salem, an unemployed Jordanian chef who worked at a Petra hotel that closed last year.

A sharp decline in tourism since the pandemic has exposed imbalances in Jordan’s $43 billion economy.

It deepened socio-economic fissures in outlying tribal regions, traditionally a base of support for the monarchy.

Signs of economic depression abound in Wadi Musa, a valley surrounding Petra in the southern Maan governorate.

Tour guides say dozens of tourists a day come to see the ruins, compared with thousands before the pandemic.

The Nabatean city thrived on trade before surrendering to the Romans in the 2nd century AD.

Most restaurants are closed and unemployed young men sit idly on the side of Panorama Street overlooking the ruins.

The Marriott is one the few hotels still functioning. Its occupants are mostly Turkish engineers working on a nearby power project.

Mr Salem is broke and has a daughter in university. He is one of the 25 per cent of Jordanians who are officially unemployed.

He put his Toyota car up for sale to raise cash to support her. No buyers have come forward for months, although he dropped the price by a third to $4,000.

“We are finding out the hard way that tourism does not mean development,” Mr Salem said.

“The only ones left with income are bureaucrats in the agencies and departments the government had set up supposedly to promote tourism."

Visitors to Petra peaked at 1.1 million in 2019. One million of them were from outside the Arab Middle East.

Although Jordan lacks the openness and cultural links of Lebanon, instability in the Levant had boosted its image as one of the safest destinations in the region.

Only 1.2 million tourists visited Jordan last year compared with 5.4 million in 2019, according the Central Bank. The numbers include visits by Jordanians living abroad, whom the government also considers tourists - 392,000 last year and 1.5 million in 2019.

Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez expected the numbers to recover next year as world travel picked up.

“Tourism in Jordan suffered, reflecting on the economic sectors it supports,” Mr Al Fayez told a recent debate in Amman, organised by the Jordanian Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists.

He said tourism income dropped to $1.4bn last year compared with $5.7bn in 2019.

“We started to see improvement last month but we do not want to exaggerate it,” Mr Al Fayez said, declining to give figures.

With hardly any tourists in Petra, donkey operators who made money by offering rides to tired visitors lost most of their income.

So did tour guides who were two years ago inundated with demand. Across Jordan, 60 per cent of travel agencies shut down, their union said.

More people in Wadi Musa are reportedly dependent on food aid from private charities. Poverty is widely believed to be the rise, in Wadi Musa and across the country.

“I know some people in the town who have no food,” said donkey owner Juma Bedoul. “It impacts the children hardest.”

The latest official figures made public, from 2010, showed that 14.4 per cent of Jordanians lived below the official poverty line of $63 a month.

Maan governorate at that time had the highest poverty rate in the country, at 26.6 per cent.

The issue is politically sensitive.

The city of Salt: Jordan's newest World Heritage List entry

It featured in a royal dispute that broke into the open in March, between King Abdullah and Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, his younger half-brother.

The authorities suggested that the prince sought to agitate people against the king in tribal regions hit by recession in the last two years.

Ramzi Hamdan, a retired officer from Rajeh, a town next to Wadi Musa, said he was sceptical about the boom in international visitors to Petra before the coronavirus.

“It provided jobs but most workers were hired under the table and left without rights,” Mr Hamdan said. "Tourism needs rule of law."

During a less severe dip in tourism in the past decade, notable figures from Rajeh met to find solutions, Mr Hamdan said.

They used their connections in government to pipe underground public water to the area from nearby hills to boost agriculture.

“We have had something to fall back on in this crisis,” Mr Hamdan said, pointing to olive groves in Rajeh.

The region is mostly inhabited by tribes with historical links to inner Arabia, and many in Rajeh also work for the military, giving the town weight when dealing with the state.

Saudi Arabia paid 75 per cent of the $224 million it cost to fix the desert highway, Jordanian officials said at the inauguration of the project in 2017.

During a meeting in Amman last month, Prime Minister Bisher Al Khasawneh thanked Sultan Murshid, head of the Saudi Development Fund, for the financing.

Mr Al Khasawneh said the repairs "made a positive difference in the movement of people and goods on this vital highway".

The road is still pitch dark at night. Power shortages have kept most of its lights off.

Many drivers speed and state media has not abandoned the moniker “death road” for the desert highway.

But attracting tourists back after Covid-19 will take more than improved infrastructure, operators say.

Jordan is expensive, compared with Egypt and Turkey, and taxes are high, said Kamal Abu Thiab, head of the Jordanian Association of Tourism and Travel Agents.

Random enforcement of coronavirus rules have further pressured the largely bankrupt tourism sector, he said.

“Tourists are calculating more carefully where they will go. The coronavirus has lowered their incomes,” Mr Abu Thiab told Mr Al Fayez at the debate in Amman.

“We cannot go back to the old ways.”

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kingdom of time

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a long-distance hiking trail in Jordan connecting the length of Jordan from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south.

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A great collection of working steam locomotives, formerly used as part of a pilgrimage route and an intrinsic part of the Great Arab Revolt.

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One of the most lively and authentic parts of Amman consisting of fascinating historical sites of the Roman Theatre and Citadel.

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The lowest point on earth and a natural wonder, is a warm, soothing, super salty water surrounded be desert beaches, mineral spas and oases.

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Tourist Arrivals in Jordan Surge by 51.3% in First Half of 2023

Jordan’s tourism sector witnessed a significant boost during the first seven months of 2023. The Central Bank of Jordan reported that tourism revenues soared by 50.1%, reaching $4.23 billion from January to July, compared to the same timeframe last year. Tourist arrivals in the nation surged by 51.3% to 3.72 million, with 3.085 million choosing extended stays, marking a 47% increase. Meanwhile, single-night visitors grew by a remarkable 76.2%, numbering 635,000. For July alone, tourism earnings escalated by 19.4% year-over-year, summing up to $782.1 million. Concurrently, the nation observed an uptick in its citizens’ outbound tourism expenses. July 2023 recorded a 13.1% hike, reaching $241 million, while the broader January-July period saw Jordanians’ spending on foreign trips rise by 37.9% from the previous year, totaling $1.147 billion.

Five million tourists visited Jordan in 2022, says Tourism Minister

Published: 2023-01-16 17:05

Last Updated: 2024-04-18 00:08

Around five million tourists visited Jordan in 2022, said Minister of Tourism Makram Qaisi, who hailed the continued gains of the tourism sector at a ministry meeting.

Jordan Tourism Board director-general Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat said that tourism income reached JD 4.123 billion last year, even greater than the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

He noted that JD 71 million has been allocated to tourism promotion in the 2023 budget, in addition to the supplementary JD 50 million that came as part of the Economic Modernization Vision.

The board aims to make tourism more steady across different seasons and diversify the type of tourists who choose to visit, Arabiyat said, and will continue implementing its partnerships with major low-cost and normal airlines, including charter flights to Amman and Aqaba.

In the 2023 budget, JD 20.2 million has been allocated to marketing activities, JD 31.1 million to aviation, JD 4.7 million to support charter flights, JD 5.375 million for developing tourism services, and JD 4.6 million for restoration and development of touristic sites.

The Department of Antiquities’ most important activities have been the nomination of Umm al-Jimal to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the completion of a tourist trail from the Citadel to the Roman amphitheater of Amman, the creation of a Christian pilgrimage trail, and the restoration of Shobak Castle, said director-general Fadi Balawi.

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Eid al fitr boosts international, domestic tourism in jordan.

By Maria Weldali - Apr 14,2024 - Last updated at Apr 14,2024

Eid Al Fitr improves the inbound tours in various tourist and archaeological areas across the country, according to stakeholders (JT File photo)

AMMAN — Eid Al Fitr has significantly improved the inbound tours in various tourist and archaeological areas across the country, according to stakeholders.

Speaking with The Jordan Times on Wednesday, Mahmoud Waleed, a tourism operator and owner of a travel and tourism agency, said that “the majority of tourists went to Aqaba duringthis Eid … while much smaller numbers of visitors went to Petra and Wadi Rum”. 

Furthermore, Waleed said that the four-day Eid period witnessed a sharp rise in staycation reservations. Noting that “Almost all stakeholders observed heightened activity, especially in the regions of Ajloun, Jerash and Irbid”.

He said that “traditionally, Eid public holidays are a very busy period, however, when compared with previous years, we can see that the demand was a bit higher this year”.

Deputy President of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and Tourism and Economy Commissioner Hamzah Hajj-Hassan on Saturday said that some 110,000 tourists visited Aqaba during Eid Al Fitr holiday until Friday, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Hajj-Hassan said that some 95,000 of the total tourists entered the coastal city through Wadi Al Yutom and Wadi Araba crossings, and 15,000 visitors entered Aqaba through international land ports, seaports and the airport.

 According to Salama Khattar, a representative of the Jordan Society of Tourism and Travel Agents, the “Urdun Jannah” programme, which encourages domestic tourism, has played a key role in stimulating inbound tourism during Eid.

He pointed out that the programme has helped bring a diverse range of hospitality experiences to people.

In this regard, Batoul Huthaifa, 24 years old, told The Jordan Times over the phone that “most of the families I know went on a trip or rented a villa near the Dead Sea or Jerash on Thursday or Friday…” adding that she went to Irbid with her family and the favourable weather was helpful.

Meanwhile, Osama Saif Eddin, an employee at a hotel in the Dead Sea, said that occupancy rates have risen by no less than 50 per cent, peaking on Friday and Thursday.

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AMMAN — With the Eid Al Fitr holiday set around one week, Jordanians have planned their vacations, with Aqaba and Turkey as the top destinat

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Jordan to temporarily close airspace, state media says

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Reporting by Adam Makary and Ahmed Tolba; Additional reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Barbara Lewis and Nick Zieminski

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Jordan Airforce Shoots Down Iranian Drones Flying Over to Israel

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) -Jordan's air force intercepted and shot down dozens of Iranian drones that violated its airspace and were heading to Israel, two regional security sources said.

They said the army was also in a state of high alert and radar systems were monitoring any drone activity coming from the direction of Iraq and Syria.

War in Israel and Gaza

Residents in several cities in the northern part of the country near Syria and central and southern areas heard heavy aerial activity.

In neighbourhoods south of the capital Amman, 60 km (37 miles) from Jerusalem, several downed drones were seen.

Residents gathered around the remnants of one suspected large drone that fell in a commercial area of the city's Marj al Hamam suburb.

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A security source had earlier said the country's air force was intensifying reconnaissance flights.

Jordan had earlier said it closed its airspace starting on Saturday night to all incoming, departing and transiting aircraft in what officials told Reuters were precautionary measures in the event of an Iranian strike across its border.

"The relevant authorities took the decision to close the airspace for precautionary reasons as a result of the surrounding security situation," Jordan's government spokesperson Muhannad Mubaideen said.

Mubaideen denied media reports that the kingdom had announced a state of emergency, adding there was no cause for concern among its citizens.

Jordan neighbours Syria and Iraq – both countries where Iranian proxy forces operate – and also is next door to Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

It has watched Israel’s war against the Palestinian group Hamas, another Iranian ally, with rising alarm for fear of getting caught in a crossfire.

Late last year, Amman asked Washington to deploy Patriot air defence systems to Jordan to bolster its border defences.

Officials say the Pentagon had since increased its military aid to the kingdom, a major regional ally, where hundreds of U.S. troops are based and hold exercises with the army throughout the year.

In January, three U.S. service members were killed and dozens wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants on U.S. troops in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border.

It was the first deadly strike against U.S. forces since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October, and marked a major escalation in tensions that have engulfed the Middle East.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Additional reporting by Ahmad Tolba and Adam Makary Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis)

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Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq reopen airspace closed over Iran’s attacks on Israel

The Arab nations had closed their airspaces after Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel, but many flights remain affected.

Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon have reopened their airspaces after closing them over Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attacks on Israel.

Jordan’s state TV on Sunday said the country had resumed air traffic operations, citing aviation authorities. The opening of its airspace came more than three hours earlier than scheduled.

Keep reading

‘true promise’: why and how did iran launch a historic attack on israel, iran launches hundreds of missiles, drones in first direct attack on israel, hamas backs iran after retaliatory missile, drone attacks on israel, biden vows g7 response, ‘ironclad’ us support for israel after iran attacks.

Lebanon said its airport will resume its activities after the overnight closure, state TV reported.

Iraq’s aviation authority said security risks had now been overcome.

Meanwhile, Israel also reopened its airspace as of 7:30am (04:30 GMT) on Sunday, adding that flight schedules from Tel Aviv were expected to be affected.

Flag carrier El Al said it had resumed operations and was “working to stabilise the flight schedule as soon as possible”. “El Al will continue to operate as much as possible to preserve the air bridge to and from Israel,” it said.

Late on Saturday night, Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel – its first direct attack on Israeli territory in a retaliatory strike that raises the threat of wider regional conflict.

Tehran had pledged to retaliate for what it says was an Israeli attack on Iran’s embassy compound last week in Damascus  that killed a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’s overseas Quds Force and six other officers.

Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, had readied air defences to intercept any drones or missiles that violated its territory, two regional security sources told the Reuters news agency.

Jordan said it intercepted some flying objects that entered its airspace last night to ensure the safety of citizens, a cabinet statement said.

“Some shrapnel fell in multiple places during that time without causing any significant damage or any injuries to citizens,” it added.

Reaction to Iran’s strikes has been swift, with many countries describing the attacks as a serious escalation, with potentially widespread consequences for the region.

The attacks come amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza , which shows no sign of easing despite numerous mediation efforts.

Meanwhile, global airlines have also been cancelling flights and changing routes after Iran’s attacks.

The United Arab Emirates-based Emirates announced the cancellation of some of its flights and the re-routing of others, the airline’s spokesperson said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and making all efforts to ensure minimal disruption to customers after recent airspace closures,” a spokesperson from the airline said.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways cancelled flights to Jordan and Israel on Sunday, the airline said in a statement.

Swiss International Air Lines has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice, the airline said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday.

Swiss, which is owned by German carrier Lufthansa, said all of its planes were avoiding the airspaces of Iran, Iraq and Israel, causing delays to flights from India and Singapore.

Lufthansa said it was suspending flights to Amman, Beirut, Erbil and Tel Aviv at least until Monday following the latest turmoil in the Middle East.

In a statement to Reuters news agency, the German carrier said it would also ensure its flights avoided the airspace above Israel, Jordan and Iraq for the foreseeable future.

Austrian Airlines, which is also part of the Lufthansa Group, announced it was suspending flights to Tehran until April 18.

“Long-haul routes through the Middle East will also be rerouted accordingly due to various airspace closures,” the airline said in a statement.

As a precaution, Iran’s Imam Khomeini international airport and the Mehrabad airport, which is mainly dedicated to domestic flights, will remain closed until Monday at 06:00 am (0230 GMT), according to ISNA news agency.

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Iran missile and drone attack on Israel – what we know so far

Israel’s military has reported minor damage after Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles towards it late on Saturday

• Iran attack on Israel – live updates
• Full report: Iran launches drones and cruise missiles against Israel

Iran launched hundreds of drones as well as cruise missiles towards Israel , in the Islamic Republic’s first ever direct attack on the Jewish state, in response to the 1 April strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which killed a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards and eight other officers.

Benny Gantz, a member of the war cabinet, said that Israel will exact a price from Iran in response to its mass missile and drone attack when the time is right. His comments came ahead of a war cabinet meeting alongside Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

Tehran has warned it will strike again with greater force if Israel or the US retaliate for the Iranian strike on Israel by more 300 drones and missiles on Saturday night. The air raids , the Islamic Republic’s first ever direct attack on the Israeli state, brought a years-long shadow war into the open and threatened to draw the region into a broader conflagration as Israel said it was considering its response.

However, the attack, mostly launched from inside Iran, caused only modest damage in Israel as most were shot down with the help of the US, Britain and Jordan. An air force base in southern Israel was hit, but continued to operate as normal and a seven-year-old child was seriously hurt by shrapnel. There were no other reports of serious damage. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said that 99% of the launches had been intercepted.

Most of the Iranian drones flying over Syria’s airspace during Tehran’s strikes overnight were downed by Israeli and US jets before reaching their targets in Israel, two western intelligence sources told Reuters .

The UN security council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday at the request of Israel’s ambassador to the UN, the council’s president said in a statement.

Iran informed Turkey in advance of its planned operation against Israel, a Turkish diplomatic source has told Reuters . The source also said that the US conveyed to Iran via Ankara that its operation must be “within certain limits”. These reports come after Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian , said in a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran that Iran had informed the US that its attacks against Israel will be “limited” and for self-defence only.

John Kirby, the White House’s top national security spokesperson, told ABC’s This Week programme on Sunday that the US will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war with Iran. “We don’t seek escalated tensions in the region. We don’t seek a wider conflict,” Kirby said. News outlet Axios reported that Joe Biden , the US president, had told Netanyahu that he would oppose an Israeli counterattack against Iran and that the prime minister should “take the win”.

UK Royal Air Force fighter jets and refuelling aircraft were also involved in Israel’s defence, taking off from bases in Cyprus. Their role, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, was to fill in for the US air force in the sorties against Islamic State normally carried out over Iraq and north-eastern Syria, but also to intercept Iranian drones if they came into the UK area of operations.

World leaders have condemned Iran’s attack, with regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Egypt calling for restraint. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said: “I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”

Jordan’s prime minister, Bisher Khasawneh , warned that any escalation in the region would lead to “dangerous paths”, joining a chorus of condemnation from world leaders to the attack. Other countries including the UK, Spain, the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and China, have called for restraint amid fears of a regional escalation of conflict across the Middle East. Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned the ambassadors of the UK , France , and Germany to question what it referred to as their “irresponsible stance” regarding Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, the semi-official Iranian Labour news agency reported .

Major airlines across the Middle East, including Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways , announced they would resume some of their operations in the region after cancelling or rerouting some flights in response to Iran’s attack on Israel. Israel said it had reopened its airspace as of 7:30am local time on Sunday morning, with Beirut airport also reopening this morning. Several Iranian airports, including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International, however, have cancelled flights until Monday.

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April 14, 2024 - Iran's attack on Israel

By Jerome Taylor, Heather Chen , James Legge, Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker , Kaanita Iyer , Paul LeBlanc , Catherine Nicholls, Maureen Chowdhury , Antoinette Radford and Eve Rothenberg, CNN

Our live coverage of Iran's attack on Israel has moved  here .

India calls on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board seized container ship 

From CNN's Sandi Sidhu in Hong Kong 

India has called on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board a container ship seized by Iran on Saturday. 

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that he spoke to his Iranian counterpart Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and "took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries."

Four Filipino seamen were also on board the ship, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers.

The department said it was working with its government, the ship owner, and the operator to release the captured seafarers.

On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked container ship in a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, state news agency IRNA reported. 

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said there were 25 crew members on board.

Japanese prime minister condemns Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Junko Ogura in Tokyo 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday said he "strongly condemns" Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel.

"(The attack) further aggravates the current situation in the Middle East. We are deeply concerned and strongly condemn such an escalation," Kishida told reporters.

Kishida said Japan would continue diplomatic efforts to "prevent the situation from worsening and to calm the situation down," and "respond in cooperation with other countries."

Blinken calls British and German counterparts following Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Philip Wang 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from the United Kingdom and Germany on Sunday following Iran's attack on Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

All parties agreed "the importance of condemning Iran's attack in the strongest possible terms and preventing further escalation," the readout said. 

Blinken earlier held phone calls with his counterparts from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia , in which he emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the Middle East and of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

US forces destroyed more than 80 attack drones from Iran and Yemen, Central Command says

From CNN's Philip Wang

US forces intercepted more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen during its attack on Israel, according to a statement from the Central Command.

The operation included destroying a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven drones on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, CENTCOM said. 

"Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behavior endangers regional stability and the safety of U.S. and coalition forces," the statement added. 

Israeli and Iranian ambassadors trade accusations during UN Security Council session

From Abel Alvarado in Atlanta

Israel and Iran’s United Nations ambassadors condemned each other’s actions during Sunday’s UN Security Council emergency session called to address Iran’s attack on Israel.

Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said Iran "must be stopped before it drives the world to a point of no return, to a regional war that can escalate to a world war." Erdan accused Iran of seeking world domination and that its attack proved that Tehran "cares nothing, nothing for Islam or Muslims" before pulling out a tablet to show a video of Israel intercepting Iranian drones above Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Erdan called on the UN Security Council to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror organization.

“Action must be taken now, not for Israel's sake, not for the region's sake, but for the world's sake. Stop Iran today."

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said his country’s operation was "entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and recognized by international law."

Iravani said:

"This concluded action was necessary and proportionate," adding that the operation was “precise and only targeted military objectives” to reduce the potential of escalation and to prevent civilian harm. “Iran is never seeking to contribute to the spillover of the conflict in the region, nor does it to escalate or spread the tension to the entire region," he said.

Tehran’s attack had been anticipated since  a suspected Israeli strike  on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria earlier this month.

Iravani added Iran has “no intention of engaging in conflict with the US in the region” but warned Iran will use its “inherent right to respond proportionately” should the US initiate a military operation against “Iran, its citizens or its security.”

Israeli war cabinet says it's ready to respond to Iran's attack but delays immediate action. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

The hours-long Israeli war cabinet meeting ended Sunday night without a decision on how Israel will respond to Iran’s missile and drone attack , an Israeli official said.

The cabinet is determined to respond — but has yet to decide on the timing and scope and the official said the military has been tasked with coming up with additional options for a response.

Separately, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that an Israeli official told the United States that it's not looking to significantly escalate the showdown with Iran.

CNN analyst Barak Ravid said Israeli ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot advocated for swift action, but US President Joe Biden's phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led to a decision to delay the response until the next day. 

Here are the latest headlines:

• Retaliation is over, Iran told US: Iran privately messaged the United States that its retaliation against Israel had concluded, echoing what Tehran said publicly, according to a senior administration official. Late Saturday, Iran said its attack on Israel is a response to Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and "the matter can be deemed concluded." However, President Ebrahim Raisi said any “new aggression against the interests of the Iranian nation will be met with a heavier and regrettable response,” according to Iran’s state news channel IRIB. 
• United Nations response: UN Secretary-General António Guterres  called for a de-escalation of violence after Iran’s attack. Guterres said the United Nations and member countries have a “shared responsibility” to engage “all parties concerned to prevent further escalation.” He also called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. “Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” he said.
• G7 and others: Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in response to Iran's attack, the G7 nations said they would work together to "stabilize the situation" in the Middle East, according to a statement from Biden. Also, Jordan summoned Iran's ambassador in Amman on Sunday after it intercepted Iranian drones over the country.
• Meanwhile in Gaza: As thousands of Palestinians were turned away from returning to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday, a 5-year-old girl was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, her mother said. Video showed a man carrying a 5-year-old girl named Sally Abu Laila, who was bleeding from her head, with people crowding around her in panic trying to cover her wound.

Also on Sunday:

• Israel decided to lift its restrictions on large gatherings and to reopen schools on Monday.
• The US Department of Homeland Security has not identified any “specific or credible threats” to the US since Iran attacked Israel.

Blinken calls Turkish, Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi counterparts following Iran's attack 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday spoke with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia following Iran's attacks in Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

During his phone calls, Blinken emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the region and the importance of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

In his conversation with Jordan and Egypt, Blinken also underlined the significance of achieving an "enduring end to the crisis in Gaza."

Iran will be held responsible if any action is taken against the US or Israel, deputy ambassador warns

From CNN’s Abel Alvarado

The United States warned Iran against taking any action against the US or Israel during the UN Security Council emergency session over Iran’s attack on Israel.

“Let me be clear, if Iran or its proxies take actions against the US or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said Sunday.

The United States is “not seeking escalation, our actions have been purely defensive in nature,” adding that the “best way to prevent such escalation is an unambiguous condemnation of the council of Iran’s unprecedented large-scale attack,” he said.

The envoy reiterated US support for Israel and condemned Iran’s attack. “Iran’s intent was to cause significant damage and death in Israel,” Wood said.

Wood also said the UN Security Council had an “obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered.”

“For far too long, Iran has flagrantly violated its international legal obligations,” he said before listing occasions Iran has violated UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

Wood accused Iran of being in a “broad sense complicit” of the October 7 attack on Israel by providing “significant funding and training for the military wing of Hamas.”

He added the US will explore "additional measures to hold Iran accountable here in the UN.”

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