AMMAN, Jordan — Jordanian intelligence officials have arrested two members of a terror cell suspected of operating a clandestine workshop for manufacturing rockets and explosives, in a significant move to disrupt Iranian-backed networks plotting attacks against Israel and the wider region.
The arrests, carried out by Jordan’s General Intelligence Directorate (GID), followed a months-long surveillance operation that tracked the procurement of raw materials and assembly of components at an industrial site on the outskirts of Zarqa. Security sources report the seized equipment included technical schematics, precursor chemicals, partially assembled rockets, and digital records indicating ties to Iran-backed terror groups.
Jordanian authorities have not publicly named the organization behind the cell, pending further investigation, but regional intelligence officials and defense analysts point to similarities with previous operations run by Hamas and Hezbollah—both principal proxies of Iran in the region. Early findings suggest the suspects, both Jordanian nationals, had received technical training and operational support from Iranian operatives moving through Syria and Lebanon.
This incident follows a pattern of escalating attempts by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to leverage proxy forces and covert logistics routes through neighboring states. Following the October 7th Hamas massacre—the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust—Iran’s partners across the ‘Axis of Resistance’ have intensified multi-front hostilities against Israel, including rocket barrages, drone attacks, and cross-border raids from Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Syria.
Jordan’s unique geopolitical position, sharing borders with Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, makes it a critical barrier against expanding Iranian influence. Since 2023, the kingdom has repeatedly intercepted arms smuggling attempts linked to Iranian proxies, reflecting growing concern over the exploitation of Jordanian territory for terror financing, recruitment, and operations. Such incidents underscore the risks faced by moderate Arab governments seeking to contain extremism while supporting regional stability.
King Abdullah II’s government, bound by a 1994 peace treaty with Israel, maintains robust intelligence cooperation with Israel and Western allies. In public statements, officials reaffirm their commitment to uprooting terror networks and refusing exploitation of Jordanian soil as a launching pad for attacks. Diplomats and security analysts emphasize that Jordan’s latest counterterrorism actions have strengthened the wider effort to block Iranian-backed subversion from opening new fronts against Israel.
Israeli defense sources welcome Amman’s resolve, highlighting the joint interest in disrupting terror infrastructure and denying Iran’s regional proxies additional capabilities. The Israeli military and security establishment continue to devote resources to intelligence sharing with Jordan, recognizing that victories against the Axis of Resistance in one country shore up wider regional resilience.
The latest arrests in Zarqa are part of an ongoing ‘shadow war.’ Israel remains vigilant to attempts to trigger cross-border violence using Jordanian territory, as Iran and its allies strive to circumvent strong Israeli defenses on established fronts. Jordan, for its part, faces persistent attempts by Tehran to sow instability and undermine its standing as a moderate force in the region.
Security analysts note that the rocket workshop would have greatly increased the operational range of Iranian-backed groups, threatening Israeli and Jordanian civilians alike. Precursor materials and weapons-making expertise are typically imported via illicit networks crossing lawless parts of Syria and Iraq, making interception and disruption both logistically challenging and vital for regional security.
The distinction between aggressor and defender is clear: Those arrested in Jordan are accused of harboring intent to launch attacks against civilian and military targets, in clear violation of international law and Jordanian sovereignty. Israel’s defensive posture is in direct response to these threats, built on the imperative to shield its population from the kind of atrocities witnessed on October 7th—brutal acts including mass murder, abductions, and mutilations carried out by Hamas and its collaborators.
Jordan’s action comes amid international concern that the Abraham Accords and wider normalization efforts between Israel and Arab states face threats from destabilization campaigns directed by Iran. While not a direct signatory to the Accords, Jordan’s continued counterterrorism partnership with Israel and the United States is a key bulwark against Iranian encroachment.
Beyond the physical threat, the incident highlights the ongoing information war waged by Iranian proxies. These groups use propaganda, disinformation, and social networks to try and incite unrest within Jordan—efforts that have so far failed to gain broad traction. The Jordanian government’s prompt and transparent response has sent a message that the country rejects imported extremist agendas and remains committed to peace and security.
As investigations continue, regional governments and Israel remain on high alert for further attempts to establish indigenous rocket and explosives capacity among Iranian-backed networks. The foiling of this cell stands as evidence both of Iran’s persistent threat and the determination of moderate states to deny its proxies strategic depth.
With the region facing a complex and evolving threat landscape, the cooperative efforts of Jordan and Israel are emblematic of a responsible approach to self-defense and counterterrorism. Through uninterrupted vigilance and firm action, they seek not only to protect their own citizens but also to preserve the fragile architecture of Middle Eastern stability.
