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Jordanian authorities have not issued evacuation orders for Aqaba International Airport or the city’s seaport, Al-Momani said Sunday, after the U.S. Embassy in Amman reported that the facilities had been evacuated because of a “specific and credible threat.”
In a security alert issued July 19, the embassy strongly advised U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Aqaba International Airport and the seaport and to follow security instructions issued by Jordanian authorities.
However, Al-Momani said the relevant Jordanian authorities had not ordered the evacuation of either facility.
Jordan's government denied to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that authorities had ordered the evacuation of the airport and seaport in the coastal city of Aqaba.
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani told AFP that "authorities have not issued any decisions to evacuate Aqaba Airport or the seaport, and both are operating normally", adding that no "potential threats" had been detected.
The embassy did not provide further details about the nature of the reported threat.
The embassy reiterated its advice for U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to military bases in Jordan.
The alert also noted that the U.S. Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members from Jordan on March 2 because of safety risks.
Americans in Jordan were advised to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, stay away from areas with a heavy police presence, monitor local media and follow instructions from local authorities.
The embassy also urged travelers to contact airlines directly if their flights were affected, exercise caution at locations publicly associated with the United States and maintain a low profile.
U.S. citizens were encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, to receive security updates and make it easier for authorities to contact them during an emergency.
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