JERUSALEM: Crack Arab Legion is ready to crush any attempt to capitalise on the assassination of King Abdullah, the official Jordan radio warned on Saturday [July 21]. The British-led Legion, which is the best fighting force in the Arab world, was alerted for incidents within and outside Jordan. Jordan’s frontiers were sealed. The 24-hour curfew in … Old City area of Jerusalem was lifted … but will go into effect again at sunset… .

… Jordan Ramallah Radio [warned] that [the] 15,000-man Legion, commanded by British General John Glubb, was ready to crush any attempt by ... subversive forces…

[News agencies from Amman add,] Eye-witnesses said that immediately before his assassination King Abdullah rebuked the Commandant of the Hashemite (King’s own) Regiment for allowing too many soldiers to guard him in the open space facing the entrance to the mosque. [He] is reported to have asked … “will you imprison me between these close lines of soldiers? Let them fall back”. When the Commandant spoke of … security, the King said: “This is God’s house. Everyone is safe here.” … [T]he assassin pushed his way between Cabinet Ministers... . He then shot the King in the head.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026