Jordanian Central Command

Jordanian Central Command المنطقة العسكرية الوسطى
Central Command Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1970 – 2000 (4th Mech. Div.) 2000 – present
Country	Jordan
Branch	Royal Jordanian Army
Type	Mechanized Infantry
Role	Multi Role
Size	13,000 - 15,000 (2012 est.)
Garrison/HQ	Amman, Balqa, Madaba
Colors	KA2 Desert Digital
Engagements	1948 Arab–Israeli War Retribution operations Six-Day War War of Attrition Black September
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Adnan Ahmed Al-Raqqad

The Jordanian Central Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الوسطى) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the main front against Israel.

History

Since the major reorganisation of 1977 the Royal Jordanian Army has kept the Central Command (Formerly known as 4th Mechanized Division)^[1] is usually deployed from Zarqa River, north of as-Salt to the Dead Sea in order to protect Jordan on its Israeli wing.^[2] But in 2000 the King Abdullah II made a big step to modernize and restructure Jordanian Armed Forces when the Divisions have been transformed into a lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.^[3][4]

The 4th Mechanised Division was deployed facing west in the sector from the Dead Sea to the Zarqa river north of Salt. The Jordan Valley, which forms the natural boundary between the two countries along this sector, is a deep, winding depression and the line of hills to the east of the valley forms a natural defensive line for Jordanian forces.^[2][5]

Jordanian forces have not been deployed in the Jordan Valley itself, where they would be vulnerable to Israeli air power and artillery. They were deployed on the heights above the valley in positions that enable them to obstruct any enemy movement up the routes to the central plateau leading to the main cities. There are a number of surfaced roads leading up to the top of the escarpment, about 800 to 1,200 m above the floor of the valley, but a well entrenched force could ensure that any enemy advance up those roads could only be attempted at great cost.^[5]

This Command was involved in many wars include 48, 67, Battle of Karameh, War of Attrition and war against the Syrian army when he tried to enter Jordan in Black September event.

In 2018, two armored brigades (40th, 60th) have been transferred from deactivated 3rd Armored Division to the central command.

Organisation

The Central Command commands regional units from the Dead Sea to the Zarqa River north of Salt. The central command commander is Brigadier General Adnan Ahmed Al-Raqqad.

References