Jordan says major ‘terror plot’ foiled, 16 arrested
Authorities uncover drone factory, rockets and explosives aimed at destabilizing national security
AMMAN, Jordan (MNTV) – Jordanian authorities have arrested 16 individuals in connection with what officials described as a “serious plot” targeting national security, involving illegal weapons manufacturing, explosives, and a drone production site.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the General Intelligence Department said the suspects had been under surveillance since 2021.
Security forces uncovered plans to recruit and train operatives both inside Jordan and in neighboring Lebanon.
The operation also revealed the existence of a factory for producing drones and at least one rocket ready for deployment, officials said.
The suspects have been referred to the State Security Court for trial. Authorities said the rockets—found hidden near the outskirts of Amman—had a range of three to five kilometers and were intended for use within Jordan.
A security source cited by Reuters linked the cell to the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan’s largest opposition group, and stated that the alleged head of the operation had been training members in Lebanon.
The Muslim Brotherhood has been previously accused of fueling public protests in the kingdom, particularly in response to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 51,000 people since October 2023.
“We are talking about new tactics, rockets and drones.
This means a complete change in the way the Muslim Brotherhood are dealing with Jordan and targeting its security,” said Amer Al Sabaileh, a Jordanian security analyst, in comments to Reuters.
Government spokesperson Mohammad Momani told reporters that authorities would release recorded confessions from the suspects, confirming that several had received training abroad.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in a call with his Jordanian counterpart, pledged “full readiness to cooperate with Jordanian authorities” and stressed that Lebanon would not allow its territory to be used as a launchpad for activities that could threaten other nations.
“Lebanon refuses to be a hub or launching pad for any action that would threaten the security of any brotherly or friendly country,” Salam said.
Jordan has repeatedly warned of increasing threats linked to regional instability. In the past year, it has foiled multiple arms smuggling attempts connected to pro-Iranian factions in Syria and Palestinian groups based in Lebanon.
Some of the intercepted weapons were reportedly intended for the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Security officials have described the latest operation as terrorism-related due to the scale of explosives involved.
They allege the plot forms part of Iran and its allies’ broader covert strategy to destabilize the US-aligned countries in the region.
Jordan hosts more than 3,500 American troops and military assets across several bases. Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, Jordan has come under increasing threat from Iranian-linked factions in neighboring Iraq and Syria.
In 2023, Jordan intercepted and shot down missiles launched from Iran toward Israel over its territory—an act that sparked public outcry among Jordanians, many of whom are descendants of Palestinians displaced in 1948 and 1967.
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