In late March, media reported that Jordan had unveiled a new defense agreement with the U.S., which allowed free entry of American military personnel, aircraft and vehicles into the Kingdom.
An advisor to the palace also confirmed the arrests, the report added.
The alleged scheme "included at least one other Jordanian royal as well as tribal leaders and members of the country's security establishment", the Post added.
No details have been released to reveal the full extent of the plot, however the source said it was "well-organised" and involved "foreign" elements.
The Gulf Cooperation Council also reaffirmed support for "all decisions and measures" taken by Abdullah.
The former crown prince of Jordan said he has been placed under house arrest and accused the country's leadership of corruption and incompetence.
Army chief Yusef Huneity earlier denied reports that the prince had been arrested, but said he was told to "stop activities that are being exploited to target Jordan's security and stability". "God bless and keep them safe".
The widow of Jordan's late king today defended her son, former Crown Prince Hamza Bin Hussein, against allegations by the authorities that he carried out actions targeting "security and stability" in the kingdom. He stressed that all the measures taken were carried out within the framework of the law and after extensive investigations that were required, Petra reported.
Jordan ordered scores of arrests Saturday to counter what it called "a threat to the country's stability" and palace officials described as a broad conspiracy. Both Bahrain and the Palestinian Authority followed suit, and Egypt said that Jordan's stability is integral for Egyptian and Arab national security.
The US state department has already offered the king, who has cultivated close relations with Washington and been a key ally in the war against Islamic State, its "full support".
Abdullah has ruled Jordan since the 1999 death of of his father, King Hussein, who ruled the country for close to a half-century.
Jordan's King Abdullah II. The kingdom, which has scant resources, received some $1.5 billion in assistance from the U.S.in 2020 - a result of Abdullah's popularity among congressional leaders. Some of that nostalgia rubbed off on Prince Hamzah, who bears a striking resemblance to King Hussein and was often considered his favorite.
Abdullah and Hamzah have not displayed any open rivalry over the years.
A security investigation has been launched and a former minister, a junior member of the royal family and unnamed others have been detained.
He has also served as an adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He later became chief executive of Tomoh Advisory, a Dubai-based consultancy.
Saturday's security sweep comes as Jordan prepares to mark 100 years since the new kingdom then named Transjordan was established alongside Palestine under British mandate. He has cultivated strong ties with several USA administrations, but, in recent years, sparred with former president Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over proposed Israeli plans to annex the West Bank and bypass the Palestinians in a bid for Israeli normalization with the rest Arab world.
03 April 2021
