JAF personnel thwart infiltration attempt, one suspect dead

AMMAN — A source from the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) in a statement issued on Tuesday announced that personnel stationed in the southern military zone on Monday foiled an infiltration attempt by three individuals, resulting in the death of one infiltrator. 

The JAF statement did not specify the border front.

The source said that Border Guards applied the rules of engagement, and arrested the three infiltrators who are Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian nationals. One individual was found to be unconsciousness.

He received first aid before being transferred to the Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Military Hospital in Karak, where he was pronounced dead. The other two individuals were referred to the relevant authorities.

The JAF statement did not provide any information on the motive of the infiltration attempt or its objectives.

The statement said that the JAF personnel are committed to dealing with infiltration and smuggling attempts with a firm determination to protect Jordan’s borders and national security.

On August 2, JAF personnel thwarted an unauthorised attempt by an Israeli individual to infiltrate Jordanian territory. The individual was arrested and handed over to the relevant authorities.

In January, the JAF announced that it foiled an attempt by a group of non-Jordanian nationals to infiltrate Jordanian territory from an unnamed neighbouring country. 

Over the past several years, particularly since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Jordan has faced hundreds of infiltration and smuggling attempts, particularly from Syria and Iraq, as a consequence of the security challenges in these countries.

Jordan borders the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel to the west and Saudi Arabia to the south. The total length of the country's borders is 778km.