October 18, 2024 | Flash Brief
IDF Eliminates Terrorists Who Penetrated Through Border With Jordan
October 18, 2024 | Flash Brief
IDF Eliminates Terrorists Who Penetrated Through Border With Jordan
Latest Developments
Two terrorists disguised as Jordanian soldiers were killed while slipping across the country’s border with Israel to carry out an attack on October 18.
The terrorists opened fire on an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) patrol that intercepted them near Neot HaKikar — a small moshav, or farming collective, south of the Dead Sea — before they were shot dead. Two Israeli soldiers were wounded in the exchange. The infiltration set off a large-scale security alert, with access roads shut down and the air force searching the area for any accomplices.
Troops located two handguns, a commando knife, a paper with Arabic to Hebrew translations, a map, binoculars, and zip ties on the gunmen, the IDF’s international spokesperson said.
The Jordanian military — which Israel looks to for security on the eastern side of the 185-mile-long border — reserved comment other than to assert that the terrorists were not Jordanian soldiers and that their uniforms were not Jordanian military issue.
Israel has been warning of Iranian-orchestrated arms smuggling to Palestinian terrorists through Jordan, as well as attempts by Tehran to destabilize the ruling Hashemite monarchy. In September, a shooting attack carried out by a Jordanian national at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank resulted in the deaths of three Israelis.
Expert Analysis
“This incident could have been far worse without the swift response of the IDF, no doubt sharpened by the lessons of the October 7, 2023, rampage from Gaza. But no one should be complacent. There are clear signs this will happen again, particularly with the open support Hamas enjoys on the Jordanian street and Iran’s efforts to turn Jordan into another launchpad for attacks against Israel. Amman must do more to secure its borders, rather than just issuing routine condemnations of Israel.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO
“Hamas has actively sought to incite the Jordanian population to commit acts of violence against Israelis. In the aftermath of the September Allenby Crossing terrorist attack, Hamas’s propaganda efforts intensified, lauding both the assailant and the attack with an enthusiasm that was strikingly greater than its typical responses to other acts of terror. Whether in Jordan or the West Bank, Hamas aims to spark a popular uprising against Israel, intending to pressure the Jewish state into agreeing to a ceasefire that would preserve the group’s hold on power in Gaza.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal
“This attack comes after a year of incitement by Hamas and its leadership directed at the Jordanian population. In tandem with Hamas, the Islamic Action Front — the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood — has organized pro-Hamas demonstrations throughout Jordan. These protests have prominently featured chants in support of figures such as Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif. The hostile rhetoric has evolved from the street level into a serious threat, endangering not only Jordan’s national security but also Israel’s. The Jordanian government must now take decisive measures to counter the growing pro-Hamas sentiment within its borders, as such incidents must not become commonplace along the long border it shares with Israel.” — Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Research Analyst
Related Analysis
“Jordanian Terrorist Kills Three Israelis in Attack at West Bank Border Crossing,” FDD Flash Brief
“Pro-Hamas Islamists Win Most Seats in Jordanian Elections,” by Ahmad Sharawi
“Israel Intercepts Weapons Cache Smuggled From Jordan,” FDD Flash Brief