Jordanian Security Officer Killed in Amman Stabbing Attack
A Jordanian security officer was killed in a stabbing attack in Amman, marking the second major security incident in the kingdom within two weeks. Meanwhile, Turkey reported the death of a soldier in a border clash with Iran.
A Jordanian security officer was killed and another injured on Thursday in a stabbing attack in the capital, Amman, which authorities have classified as a terrorist incident. The assailant was also wounded, arrested, and transferred to a hospital for medical treatment.
According to the Public Security Directorate, the attack took place on Al-Madina Street near the Sri Lankan Embassy, though a connection to the location has not been established. Investigators found a bag belonging to the attacker at the scene, prompting sappers to deploy and inspect it for potential explosives. State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka reported that the attacker attempted to seize the weapon of the slain officer, identified as Jawad Ali Khalaf Al-Salaita, before a second security operative intervened and was injured alongside the suspect.
Heightened Security Concerns
This incident occurs just two weeks after a deadly shooting attack at a church in Jordan, which left security forces on high alert. In the previous attack, Islamist gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, killing nine people and wounding at least 34 others. The three perpetrators were captured three days later following a shootout with security forces, prompting subsequent Jordanian airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria.
Commenting on the latest security breach, prominent Middle East analyst Daham Matkal Al-Fawaz wrote on the X platform: "What is happening is completely unacceptable. Jordan is a safe and stable country, and we will not allow any party or individual to harm its security, undermine its stability, or damage its standing."
Separate Incident on the Turkish-Iranian Border
In a separate and unrelated development, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that a Turkish soldier was killed late last month in a shootout along the border with Iran. The ministry stated that the fatal incident occurred on October 31 as the soldier attempted to intervene in an illegal border crossing. Representatives from Turkey and Iran subsequently met at the scene, and both nations are cooperating in a joint investigation to determine the circumstances.
