1958 Jordan crisis
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The 1958 Jordan crisis (Arabic: أزمة الأردن في 1958) was an attempted coup against the regime of King Hussein which occurred during the spring and summer of that year.[1][2] It had happened in the background of several other revolutions during that year,[3] and was organized by opposition forces supported by Syria and Egypt.[4] The attempted coup attempt happened in the background of the same events as the 14 July Revolution, and the attempted coup was planned to occur over a similar timespan.[1][5]
Background
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2024) |
In 1957, an alleged coup d'etat was attempted against the hashemite monarchy, again funded by both Egypt and Syria. In the aftermath, the democratically elected government was deposed, and the state was placed under martial law.[1] With the abrogation of the 1948 Anglo-Jordanian treaty and the arabisation of the army, Amman's reliance on the UK decreased, yet relations were unaffected. Under the Eisenhower doctrine, the US became the primary backer of the Hashemite monarchy, while the UK still retained influence.[1] Under the same doctrine, a 'division of labour' was agreed upon by the US and the UK, whereby the US would back the government of Lebanon, and the UK would back the government of Jordan, and by extension the Hashemites.[1]
Tensions continued to simmer in late 1957, as Hussein's opponents kept operating supported by Egypt and the Syrian Deuxieme bureau. For instance, on the 12th of December, 1957, Hussein visited Nablus, one of the hotspots for Anti-Hashemite activity, where his welcome was 'not entirely spontaneous'.[1] Mere days later, a member of the Tuqan family gave a speech supporting the Hashemites in the city, where he was attacked with acid on the streets in the aftermath. Members of the 'Tahrir' (liberation) party were arrested in December, and multiple bomb attacks (one targetting the governor of Amman, Saad Jum'a, and another targetting US oil prospect missions in Jordan) occured the same month.[1] This led Hussein to attempt to intimidate his opposition by passing harsh laws, such as 15 years imprisonment for the posession or selling/purchasing of automatic weapons and explosives, and the death penalty for using such items with the 'intent to kill or cause damage'.[1] However, the opposition remained undeterred, as further arrests continued in January.[1]
In late January, plans for a union between Egypt and Syria were underway, which Hussein viewed as a direct threat. These fears would be the catalyst for the Hashemite Arab Federation's formation between Jordan and Iraq. On the 1st of February, Hashemite fears would be realised, as the UAR was formed, leading to the formation of the Arab Federation (AF). A propaganda battle insued between the two unions.[1]
For example, Nasser criticised the 'collaborators of imeperialism' in Amman and Baghdad as trying to 'appease their imperialist masters'. Jordan would respond (via Radio Amman) criticising the UAR for allowing the UNEF to occupy Sinai. Both states actively blocked the other's radio broadcasts in an attempt to censor the other's propaganda.[1] The AF was deeply unpopular, and many Jordanians would have preferred being a part of Nasser's union.[1]
Two plots would be formed against the Hashemites. The smaller one planned for February involved the subversion of the national guard by the 'free officers', while the much more important operation (the Crisis of 1958) was planned for July. This information was granted to the Hashemite authorities by the CIA stationed in Amman.[1]
Using the information, a cadet would be arrested and interrogated upon which he would reveal that he had been hired to assasinate King Hussein and his uncle Sharif Nasser in a plot coordinated with a similar assasination of King Faisal of Iraq. Subsequently, Iraqi authorities would be notified of the plot and pledged to take action.[1]
Events
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2024) |
The overthrow of Iraq would ironnically occur as a direct result of Hussein's fears. He requested military support from Iraq, and the Iraqi PM Nuri Al-Said would send the 20th Brigade over. However, en route to Jordan, the brigade would turn around and overthrow the Iraqi monarchy. Hussein would make many attempts to halt the coup d'etat, and attempted to assert control of the Iraqi army (under which he was permitted to according to the Arab Federation agreement), to no avail. The Iraqi brigade in Al-Mafraq retreated to Iraq upon hearing of the coup d'etat to join them, and the Iraqi army almost entirely defected to the coupists.[1]
Hussein took multiple measures to prevent the coup d'etat expanding into Jordan. He assumed direct control of the Arab Federation, and ordered the army to supress hostile demonstrations ruthlessly, and to guard foreign consulates and embassies across the state. Nablus had minor strikes, but these were easily suppressed after a blockade of the city.[1]
TO BE CONTINUED LATER.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Tal, Lawrence (1995). "Britain and the Jordan Crisis of 1958". Middle Eastern Studies. 31 (1): 39–57. ISSN 0026-3206.
- ^ "Playing a weak hand well: Jordan's Hashemite kings and the United States". Brookings. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "The Middle East in 1958: Reimagining A Revolutionary Year | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs". www.belfercenter.org. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ^ Tal, Lawrence (2002), Tal, Lawrence (ed.), "The July Crisis", Politics, the Military and National Security in Jordan, 1955–1967, St Antony's Series, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 54–66, doi:10.1057/9780230513921_4, ISBN 978-0-230-51392-1, retrieved 2024-01-21
- ^ "Statement by Macmillan on Jordan". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
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