Jordanian Air Force increases sorties over Jordan airspace amid Israel-Iran escalation

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - The Jordanian Air Force on Tuesday said it has increased its sorties over the Jordanian airspace amid the recent Israeli-Iranian escalation.

In a statement, cited by the official Jordanian news agency Petra, the Royal Jordanian Air Force said the increase in its sorties is "to prevent any air penetration and defend the Kingdom's airspace."

It also stressed that Jordan will not allow "any party to use Jordanian airspace for any purpose, as it constitutes an infringement on Jordanian sovereignty."

On Sunday, Jordanian King Abdullah II told US President Joe Biden during a phone call that "Jordan will not allow for a regional war to unfold on its land."

According to Israeli media, including the Times of Israel, Jordan, along with the US, Britain and France, took part in intercepting the Iranian projectiles fired towards Israel.

Iran on Saturday launched an airborne attack on Israel in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital. It reportedly fired more than 300 drones and missiles, with almost all intercepted by the air defense systems of Israel and its allies – the US, France, and the UK.