US embassy in Amman tells Americans to avoid Aqaba over 'credible threat'; kingdom denies evacuation

The U.S. embassy in Amman on Sunday advised Americans to avoid Aqaba and its airport, citing a "specific and credible threat" that led to the evacuation of both facilities by Jordanian authorities. However, Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad Momani stated that "Aqaba airport and the seaport are operating normally" and that no potential threats had been recorded. This alert follows a March 2 State Department order for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave Jordan due to safety risks, and a broader warning on Saturday for Americans in the Middle East to exercise increased caution amid heightened regional tensions, particularly after Iranian attacks on military facilities in Jordan that killed two U.S. service members.