Israel Issues Warning Over Iran, Hamas Destabilization of Jordan and West Bank

Latest Developments

Israel’s foreign minister warned that Iran and its Palestinian terrorist proxy Hamas are attempting to destabilize both Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA)-controlled West Bank by smuggling weapons and funds through the Hashemite Kingdom. In a post on X on August 12, Israel Katz asserted that “a serious and dangerous situation is unfolding” as units of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “are collaborating with Hamas operatives in Lebanon to smuggle weapons and funds into Jordan with the aim of destabilizing the regime.”

Following decades of discreet bilateral cooperation, Israel has generally avoided public comment on Jordanian security matters, even in the face of often ferocious policy criticism from Amman. However, Katz’s post emphasized that Iran is “work(ing) to establish a new eastern terror front against Israel’s major population centers.” This, he said, entails collaborating with Hamas terrorists in neighboring Lebanon to deliver weapons and money into Jordan “with the aim of destabilizing the regime.” The weapons are then smuggled into the West Bank, giving Iran de facto control of Palestinian areas that are nominally under PA governance and creating springboards for attacks on Israelis.

Separately, Israel’s Army Radio reported that the IDF may soon set up a new division for securing the porous Jordanian border. The IDF confirmed that such a proposal was under consideration.

Expert Analysis

“Since the 1970s, the Hashemite Kingdom has looked to Israel to guarantee its survival in the face of regional threats. But all the while it has indulged in anti-Israel lip service in the hope of mollifying its Palestinian majority. The censure has only surged during the Gaza war. It’s time for the double game to end.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Iran’s role in the uptick of violence in the West Bank has been a persistent challenge for Israel since June 2021. The regime identified and exploited the Palestinian Authority’s weak governance in the West Bank by flooding the territory with weapons and bolstering its clients. For its part, the Palestinian Authority understands Iran’s meddling is eroding its influence, yet it has done little to alter this troubling dynamic.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Iran Deploying Criminal Network to Smuggle Weapons Into Jordan

Iran is employing a network of militants, criminals, and intelligence operatives to smuggle weapons into the West Bank, The New York Times reported on April 9, citing a group of unnamed Iranian, American, and Israeli officials. Iranian operatives hand off the weapons to Bedouin smugglers in Jordan who deliver the caches to criminal gangs at the Israeli border. On August 4, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi arrived in Tehran as regional tensions escalated following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Safadi said on X that he delivered a message from Jordan’s King Abdullah to Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian “about the regional situation” and “held talks with the [Iranian] Foreign Minister about the dangerous escalation taking place in the region.”

“Jordanian Foreign Minister Arrives in Tehran,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran handed Jordan and Israel an opportunity to improve ties,” by Natalie Ecanow and Behnam Ben Taleblu

“Sidestepping Tensions With Israel, Jordan Helps Repel Iran With U.S.-Led Coalition,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Attempts to Destabilize Jordan,” FDD Flash Brief