Anti-Israel protests in Amman, Jordan, April 5, 2024 (palestine chronicle)
Continued protests in Jordan demonstrate perceived flaws in the Biden administration's Middle East policy.
Iran and Hamas have been successful in destabilizing the Jordanian government, raising concerns among Gulf states about a potential “domino effect'' across the region.
The United States has 3,000 American troops stationed in Jordan. In January 2024, Iranian proxy forces attacked the US military outpost Tower 22 in Jordan, killing three soldiers and injuring 47 others.
The Middle East's Moderate Arab Coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, has seen its influence decline as Washington's approach toward Iran is perceived as lenient.
Jordan is experiencing the largest demonstrations in recent memory, with demonstrators expressing support for Hamas and opposing continued conflict in the Gaza Strip.
These protests, orchestrated by Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in conjunction with Iran, are aimed at undermining King Abdullah's rule and establishing a new front against Israel along the Jordanian border.
King Abdullah, a longtime ally of the United States, is facing growing pressure to quell the violence. If protests continue and the stability of the Hashemite monarchy is threatened, the king could resort to heavy-handed measures to suppress dissent, similar to his father's actions in September 1970, which became infamous as “Black September.” There is widespread speculation that there is.
The demonstrations highlighted the Hashemite monarchy's vulnerability amid the growing influence of the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance.
The Axis powers, including Hamas, aim to undermine the Jordanian-Israeli peace agreement, disrupt the gas agreement with Israel, and potentially turn the Jordanian-Israeli border into a new battleground. Unfortunately for Iranian proxies, Jordanian air defense forces shot down at least one Houthi missile headed for the Israeli Red Sea port of Eilat. Additionally, Jordanian forces continue to battle organized drug and arms smuggling rings believed to be linked to Iran along the northern border with Syria.
lack of American determination
The situation in Jordan highlights the weaknesses in President Biden's Middle East policy, characterized by what critics see as a lack of resolve in dealing with Iran.
A tougher stance against Iran could have deterred challenges to King Abdullah's rule.
Jordanian anger is fueled by economic hardship and government corruption, providing fertile ground for Hamas to exploit discontent and destabilize the government.
Hamas leaders openly encouraged mass protests, even urging demonstrators to breach the Israeli border to demand the liberation of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israeli occupation. Hamas perceives the unrest in Jordan as an offshoot of the October 7 al-Aqsa flood attack.
Jordan serves as an important gateway to the Arab world and is considered a bridge to the West Bank, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and Yemen.
Iran and its Axis of Resistance pose a threat to the stability of Arab regimes, reminiscent of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. A “domino effect'' looms large and could spread from Jordan to other Arab states allied with the United States.
In response, Gulf states are expected to extend financial support to Jordan to strengthen its stability against threats from Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as Iran's broader influence. They aim to contain the threat and prevent it from spreading into their territory.
