Jordanian Army Movement Triggers Major Security Scare on Southern Border
Residents of Paran were ordered into shelters and roads to Eilat were blocked fearing a terrorist infiltration but the suspects turned out to be members of the Jordanian military
An unusual security alarm was triggered on Tuesday evening in the community of Paran, located near the Jordanian border in the Arava region of Israel.
The alarm was sounded due to a suspected terrorist infiltration, prompting the IDF to order residents to enter protected spaces.
Initial reports stated that forces had identified suspects approaching Israeli territory from Jordan. Large-scale searches were initiated, and aerial forces were scrambled to the scene. As a precaution, major roads leading to the city of Eilat were briefly blocked to traffic.
False Alarm and Coordination with Jordan
Over an hour after the incident began, the IDF updated that the suspicion of infiltration had been ruled out. The forces had identified ten suspects moving quickly toward the border, but they were eventually identified as Jordanian soldiers.
The IDF clarified that there was no security incident, and the event was managed in full coordination with the Jordanian military. Residents were subsequently given the all-clear to leave their homes.
Rising Tensions on the Eastern Frontier
The incident occurs amidst heightened alertness along the Israel-Jordan border. For the first time since the 1970s, the IDF is reactivating old outposts along the water line as part of a new defense strategy. The Central Command is currently preparing for a "war tomorrow" scenario, fearing that the stable eastern front could turn into a conflict zone.
According to leading IDF scenarios, the threat involves thousands of terrorists, including pro-Iranian militias, Palestinians living in Jordan, and Houthi operatives, attempting a mass invasion into Israel.
Smuggling and New Threats
Official IDF data regarding the Jordanian border in 2025 indicates a worrying trend. While only seven weapons and drug smuggling attempts were thwarted in the past year, the volume of seized weaponry has doubled, with 263 weapons captured compared to 129 the previous year.
However, the primary concern for the military is not just ground smuggling, but aerial threats. There is a growing fear of smuggling via drones, a phenomenon that has spilled over from the Egyptian border. While only one drone smuggling attempt was identified in the Dead Sea area recently, military officials admit the full scope of the phenomenon remains unknown.