Jordan news stories on Newser

Snag to Syria Intervention: Assad's Chemical Weapons

John Johnson — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:13:34 CST

As the world community considers what to do about Syria, one serious complication keeps coming up: Bashar al-Assad's huge stockpile of chemical and biological weapons. In fact, the US and Jordan militaries have begun working together on a plan to secure the dozen or so sites where they are thought...

Jordan's King to Syrian Prez: 'Step Down'

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:36:44 CST

Jordan's king said today that Syrian President Bashar Assad should step down for the good of his country, the first Arab leader to publicly make such a call as Syria's neighbors close ranks against an increasingly isolated regime. "If Bashar has the interest of his country, he would step down,...

Only 10% of Arab World Likes Obama

Kevin Spak — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:36:40 CDT

You know President Obama’s plan to reach out and win hearts and minds in the Middle East? It’s not going well. In a stunning new Pew Poll spotted by Glenn Greenwald of Salon , only 10% of residents in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates said they...

Bomb Hits Egypt Gas Pipeline

Mark Russell — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:28:05 CDT

An Egyptian pipeline that supplies gas to Israel and Jordan was rocked by an explosion today, sending flames into the air and sparking a fire that burned for seven hours, cutting off the supply of gas, the BBC reports. Officials say two pickup trucks pulled up to the pumping station;...

King Met With Bottle Attack ... or Warm Welcome?

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:54:54 CDT

King Abdullah II was met by either tossed bottles and stones or a warm welcome on a visit to Jordan's south today, according to conflicting reports from government officials. A security official said a crowd of youths flung objects at the monarch's motorcade in two incidents in the town of...

Saudis Forming Anti-Shiite 'Club of Kings'

Kevin Spak — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:44:05 CDT

Saudi Arabia is moving to firm up alliances with Sunni nations in a bid to limit Iran’s influence and stem the tide of revolts in the Arab world. It has asked several countries across the Middle East and Asia, including Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, to join an informal alliance that...

Syrian Tanks Roll Into Daraa

Kevin Spak — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 08:04:38 CDT

Syria closed off its border with Jordan today as troops and tanks poured into the border city of Daraa—the original hotbed of the protests that have erupted across the country. Bodies were seen strewn throughout the streets of the city, witnesses tell Reuters , with one human rights campaigner accusing...

Jordan Out to Take Back Ancient Christian Texts

Kevin Spak — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:32:05 CDT

A team of archaeologists believes that a Bedouin farmer in Israel is in possession of some of the most important Christian texts ever discovered—and the government of Jordan is out to reclaim them. Farmer Hassan Saeda has in his possession about 70 books made of lead and copper that...

US Enemies Loving Unrest

Kevin Spak — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:58:05 CST

Iran, Syria, and other members of the self-proclaimed “resistance bloc” are delighted by the unrest sweeping through the Arab world—since it’s so far affected primarily US allies like Egypt and Jordan, the Wall Street Journal observes. The unrest “proved that the global arrogance’s era of domination and control of...