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A Jordanian government spokesman told AFP that authorities had not ordered the evacuation of Aqaba’s airport or seaport, with both facilities continuing normal operations on July 19. Mohammad al-Momani said no threats had been detected in recent hours and that warnings would only follow standard procedures if officials identified any risks. The clarification addressed confusion stemming from an alert by the US embassy in Amman that had suggested an evacuation due to a potential threat.
Al-Momani stated that no such decisions had been issued by Jordanian officials, according to the AFP report from Amman. He emphasised that the government maintains close monitoring of the situation in the southern port city, which serves as the country’s sole maritime outlet. The spokesman’s remarks sought to reassure operators and the public that routine activities at the sites remained unaffected.
The exchange comes as the US military reported two service members killed and one missing in Iranian strikes on Friday. Those casualties represented the first fatalities for American forces since the conflict with Iran resumed, a US military assessment found. Heightened regional tensions have prompted various diplomatic and security alerts across neighbouring countries in recent days.
The Aqaba seaport handles the bulk of Jordan’s maritime trade according to figures from the Jordan Ports Authority. Its airport supports both civilian flights and logistical operations critical to the southern economy. Officials have worked to prevent any unnecessary disruptions at these sites given their strategic value to the kingdom’s supply chains.
Jordan has navigated the broader conflict with careful diplomatic positioning to safeguard its territory and economic interests. The government has issued similar clarifications in the past when external alerts have circulated without local confirmation. Al-Momani’s statement to AFP underscored that Jordanian procedures for threat assessment had not triggered any evacuation measures at the time.
