Jordan’s royal court slams rumours

Jordan’s royal court has threatened legal action against those who spread misleading claims after two of the king’s brothers and a cousin retired last week in a restructuring of the country’s military.

“The royal Hashemite court will pursue legal measures against those who spread lies and false claims against the princes and members of the royal Hashemite family, as the fabricated news circulated recently is aimed at undermining Jordan and its institutions,” the court said yesterday.

“Our loyal people do not fall for such lies, which can never damage Jordan’s national unity and the deep-rooted relationship between Jordanians and the royal Hashemite family.”

Rumours have varied as to the reasons for the retirements, including suggestions of moves to undermine the monarch.

One theory places the blame on Qatar.

“It was an attempt by the Qataris to rally the Jordanian street to exert pressure on the Jordanian regime in an attempt to undermine its ties with the Saudis,” said Zaid Nawaiseh, an independent political analyst in Amman.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain severed diplomatic, economic and transport ties with Qatar in June over its support for terrorists and close relations with Iran.

Last week King Abdullah thanked the three princes on their retirement for their service.

The monarch, who is the supreme commander of the Jordan armed forces, said he was restructuring the military to improve operational capability, trim expenses and reorganise its command structure.

Part of the reform package, according to independent policy institute the Centre for American Progress, involves restructuring and downsizing the Jordanian special operations command.

The command is a longtime partner of the American special operations community housed under Jordan’s armed forces.

The restructuring comes after a string of terrorist attacks, including one in December 2016 in the city of Karak that killed 10 people and injured 34.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.

It is not uncommon for members of the royal family to serve in leading positions in the army, said Amer Sabaileh, a political analyst and director of Middle East Media and Political Studies Institute, a think tank with a branch in Amman.

“When it comes to restructuring the army, it only makes sense to ask those with privileges in the army to retire as parts of attempts to cut down on expenses,” Mr Sabaileh said.

“It is only a bureaucratic procedure and does not have any political significance.”