ISIS linked militants reportedly placed an improvised explosive device (IED) under a police vehicle guarding a music festival in Jordan’s largely Christian region of Fuheis on 10 August.
The IED blast left one police officer killed and six others wounded. The blast happened on police vehicle that was stationery implying that the militants could have used a timing device or a remote controlled improvised device (RCIED).
On 11 August, Jordan security officers launched a counterterrorism operation in As-Salt Balqa province where militants detonated another IED within a building as security forces conducted the raid killing at least four police officers. Three militants were killed and five were arrested.
Jordan faces an increased threat of militant incidents from Salafist-jihadist militants mainly perpetrated by the Islamic State – ISIS operatives operating both in Jordan and along the Syria-Jordan border.
In January 2018, state-run media reported that security forces arrested 17 fighters of an ISIS cell from Zarqa who reportedly were plotting an attack.
Successful ISIS attack demonstrates militant intent to escalate its campaigns targeting Jordan’s security forces and Christians and signals improved IED capabilities.
