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Jordan

June 10, 2026

Amman 5:16 pm

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An old locomotive sits outside the Hejaz rail station in old Damascus on February 23, 2010. The Hejaz railway ran from Damascucs to Medina in Saudi Arabia and was part of the Ottoman railway network. AFP PHOTO/LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Explainer

Saudi Arabia, Turkey advance plans to revive historic Hejaz Railway

Turkish and Saudi officials signed agreements as part of a Turkish push to revive the Hejaz Railway linking Turkey to the Gulf through Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Morocco's midfielder Azzedine Ounahi celebrates scoring with teammates during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E African qualification football match between Morocco and Niger at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat on September 5, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)

Culture

10 MENA teams at 2026 World Cup: Morocco eyes title, Iran faces visa hurdles

Jordan is competing in its first World Cup, while Iraq is making only its second appearance, as teams from the region seek to advance against European and Latin American powerhouses.

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on Aug. 29, 2022.

Israel energy minister says gas flowing to Egypt, Jordan despite shutdown reports

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen told Al-Monitor that despite security concerns and partial shut down of marine gas platforms, Israel continues to supply gas to Egypt, Jordan and Israeli consumers.

A trilateral meeting was held today in Jeddah, bringing together His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 20, 2026.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar to deepen security ties amid Iran war: What to know

Gulf states and Jordan are aligning more closely as Iranian attacks persist.

Latest News

Egypt closes stores early, Jordan bans AC as Iran war takes toll

Shops close early, on March 28, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt.

US fast-tracks $16.5B arms sales to UAE, Jordan, Kuwait amid Iran attacks

Uae

Iran takes aim at Jordan over role in US strikes: What to know

US soldiers participate in the annual military exercises known as "Eager Lion" near Maan, some 200 kilometers south of the capital Amman on May 17, 2017.

US court overturns Trump global tariffs: What it means for MENA

Heather Diehl/Getty Images

Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Hanna Davis

In Beirut, reporting on politics, migration, human rights

Lyse Mauvais

In Amman, reporting on humanitarian crises

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi gives a joint press conference with his German counterpart following talks at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on March 10, 2021.

Interview

Israel already suffering 'strategic defeat' with global outcry over Gaza, Jordan’s FM says

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi urged the United States to wield its influence with Israel to stem the bloodshed in Gaza after two months of devastating war.

Ayman Safadi

Ayman Safadi

Foreign Minister of Jordan

Jordan water

Analysis

How detrimental is Gaza war to Jordan-Israel climate cooperation, water security? 

Responding to domestic pressure, Jordan has called off a deal to exchange its solar energy for desalinated water from Israel, but it has no good solutions for its own water crisis.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

TABA, EGYPT: Beach resorts close to the Egyptian Taba Hilton (background-R) remain empty 11 October 2004, four days after three attacks targeted this well-known hotel in the Sinai peninsula next to the Israeli border and another two minor resorts, killing at least 32 people and causing the exodus of thousands of Israeli tourists from the area called the Egyptian Riviera. Israel's resort of Eilat, close to the border with Egypt, is set for a boom as thousands of Israelis who regularly holiday in Sinai look e

Tourism tipping point: Middle East travel boom delivering economic boost as Israel-Hamas war threatens recovery

The outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas in October 2023 has undercut a fledgling tourism rebound in the Holy Land after years of struggle.

Jordan's Queen Rania and Spain's Queen Letizia (R) arrive for an official luncheon at the Royal Palace in Madrid, on June 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul White / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PAUL WHITE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Day 19 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Wednesday, Oct. 25

Jordan queen rues West's 'glaring double standard' on Gaza

Agence France-Presse

This picture shows a view of the reservoir of the Mujib Dam, the main water supply to Amman, in the Madaba governorate, about 100kms north of the Jordanian capital, on April 20, 2021.

Israel-Hamas war set to impact Jordan’s water and energy security amid renewables push

The Israel-Hamas war is presenting significant implications for neighboring Jordan’s water security and energy independence, adding new significance to its growing renewable energy push.

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Demonstrators wave Palestinian and Jordanian flags during a demonstration in Amman in support of Palestinians amid Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in response to the surprise attack by Hamas against it, October 13, 2023.

Jordan faces mass rallies, marches toward Israel, West Bank border

Jordanian security forces prevented demonstrators from approaching the border with Israel to show their support for the Palestinians of Gaza.

This picture taken from the Mount of Olives shows a view of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Old City on August 25, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia, Jordan condemn Israeli settler provocations at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to the West Bank has spoken out over the clashes that broke out over the weekend as hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Jordanian King Abdullah II at the Middle East Global Summit on Sept. 20, 2023. (Al-Monitor/Yvonne Tnt)

Analysis

Jordan's King Abdullah: You can’t parachute over Palestine to make peace with Israel

At the inaugural Al-Monitor/Semafor Middle East Global Summit, King Abdullah II emphasizes the centrality of the Palestinian issue; Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani describes vision for natural gas; and more excerpts and coverage of summit.

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

Jordanian King Abdullah II at the Middle East Global Summit on Sept. 20, 2023. (Al-Monitor/Yvonne Tnt)

Al-Monitor/Semafor summit: Jordan’s King Abdullah II laments Syrian drug crisis, Iran’s regional role

The monarch also addressed the refugee crisis, the importance of Israeli-Palestinian peace and other regional issues at the Al-Monitor/Semafor Middle East Global Summit.

King of Jordan

Highlights: Al-Monitor/Semafor Middle East Global Summit

The Al-Monitor & Semafor inaugural Middle East Global Summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings on Wednesday brought together the region’s leaders, newsmakers and business heads.

A picture taken during a tour origanized by the Jordanian Army shows a drone flying over an observation post along the border with Syria, on February 17, 2022. - Drug trafficking from Syria into Jordan is becoming "organised" with smugglers stepping up operations and using sophisticated equipment including drones, Jordan's army said, warning of a shoot-to-kill policy. Since the beginning of this year, Jordan's army has killed 30 smugglers and foiled attempts to smuggle into the kingdom from Syria 16 million

Jordan downs drone carrying drugs from Syria in 9th incident this year

The incident is the ninth this year as Jordan battles increasing drug smuggling attempts from neighboring Syria.