King meets families of soldiers fallen in anti-terror war

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, on Wednesday met with families of soldiers and members of security agencies fallen in the war against terrorist groups. 

During the meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, the King voiced his pride in the sacrifices of those who died in the line of duty to protect Jordan and its security and stability, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The King said that the terrorist acts that targeted the Kingdom and its people have united Jordanians and made them stronger and more persistent to face terrorist groups and anyone who thinks of tampering with the country's safety and stability. 

During the meeting, also attended by families of civilians who died in the terrorist incidents, His Majesty hailed the army and security agencies for their alertness and efforts to protect the Kingdom and citizens. 

In a tweet later in the day, His Majesty wrote: “Proud to be among our martyrs’ families who sacrifice their loved ones. May God bless the souls of our heroes and protect our nation #ABH”.

For their part, the families commended the King’s care and support for them.

His Majesty has previously ordered establishing a fund and allocated JD5 million from the Royal Court’s budget as a donation. 

The fund is going to provide regular additional financial support to improve the lives of the families of those who died in the line of duty, and the King also ordered to have the families included in the funding services of the Military Credit Fund (MCF), given to them with no interest. 

The targeted families will be included as beneficiaries of the MCF’s financing services and will be entitled to obtain interest-free loans and other services.

The Central Bank of Jordan has opened a special account to receive donations to finance the fund, after the MCF embarked on amending its by-law in order to allow access to its funding services for the families of army and security personnel who died in the line of duty. 

The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, National Security Adviser and General Intelligence Department Director Gen. Faisal Shobaki, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan, Royal Court Secretary General Yousef Issawi, Civil Defence Department Director Lt. Gen. Talal Kofahi, Public Security Department Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sarhan Faqih and Gendarmerie Department Director Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh.