Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, stated that his country will not become a battleground for Iran or Israel. In an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV on Saturday, he emphasized this stance amid fears of Iranian retaliation against Israel following the killing of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Safadi said, “We will not be a battlefield for Iran or Israel. We have made it clear to both that we will not allow anyone to violate our airspace or compromise our security. Anything that crosses our airspace will be intercepted, and we will consider it a threat to us or our citizens.”
Jordan, located between Iran and Israel, has been vigilant since Iran began retaliatory drone and missile strikes against Israel in April. Jordan had intercepted some objects entering its airspace at that time, believed to be linked to an Iranian response to an Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria.
On July 31, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed, with Iran and Hamas blaming Israel for his death. Iran has repeatedly threatened to punish Israel. This situation has raised concerns that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could escalate across the Middle East. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the killing.
Tensions have also risen following the death of Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukur, in an Israeli attack in southern Beirut, just hours before Ismail Haniyeh’s death.