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Jordan's Royal Court Rejects 'Inaccurate' Claims About King Abdullah's Accounts

Jordan's King Abdullah II. (Royal Hashemite Court)
Jordan's King Abdullah II. (Royal Hashemite Court)
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Jordan's Royal Court Rejects 'Inaccurate' Claims About King Abdullah's Accounts

Jordan's King Abdullah II. (Royal Hashemite Court)
Jordan's King Abdullah II. (Royal Hashemite Court)

Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court said the recent media reports on the bank account of King Abdullah II include inaccuracies used to defame Jordan and the King.

A press statement by the Jordanian Royal Court, which Asharq Al-Awsat received a copy of, said the reports contained inaccurate, outdated and misleading information with the intent of defaming the King and Jordan.

The Royal Court revealed that the total balance mentioned in several reports is inaccurate and exaggerated.

The statement explained that most of the sums listed in the accounts relate to the sale of a large Airbus 340 airplane for $212 million and replacing it with a smaller, less costly Gulfstream aircraft.

King Abdullah had inherited two planes from the late King Hussein, which were sold, with the resulting sum used to replace them more than once over the past 20 years, including the sale of the Airbus 340 and the purchase of the Gulfstream aircraft currently used by the monarch.

"The surplus sum that resulted from replacing the large aircraft with a smaller one was used with His Majesty's private assets and personal wealth to cover the private expenses of the Hashemite family and fund various Royal initiatives over the past years."

The Royal Court revealed that the closed accounts mentioned in the reports include an account with deposits inherited from his father, the late King Hussein.

As for the account established as a trust fund for the King's children, which is registered under the name of Queen Rania Al Abdullah, the funds came from the King's private wealth, and the account was entrusted to their mother, as they were minors at the time.

The statement stressed that the King's private assets and wealth have always been independent of the treasury and public funds, and they are managed by the Privy Purse, a directorate at the Royal Hashemite Court for over 70 years.

The Royal Court stressed that all international assistance is subject to professional audits, and their allocations are fully accounted for by the government and donors, under cooperation agreements subject to the highest standards of governance and oversight.

The Court warned that any allegations that link the funds in these accounts to public funds or foreign assistance are defamatory, baseless, and deliberate attempts to distort facts and systematically target Jordan's reputation, as well as King Abdullah's credibility, especially coming after similar reports published last year that were based on leaks from previous years.

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Arab World

Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)

Israeli forces have launched their largest ground incursion into southern Lebanon since the conflict began, reaching the outskirts of the Litani River near Deirmimas.

They entered the town’s edges in an effort to separate Nabatieh from Marjayoun and prepare for an attack on the town of Taybeh from the west and north.

This move also aimed to neutralize Taybeh hill, which overlooks the Khiam plain, where Israel plans to extend its operations and capture the city of Khiam.

Lebanese media reported that Israel set up a checkpoint at the Deirmimas junction, cutting off Marjayoun from Nabatieh.

They also blocked the western entrance to Deirmimas near a fuel station using earth mounds, with Israeli military vehicles stationed there. Reports also said Israeli forces prevented UNIFIL and the Lebanese army from passing toward Marjayoun.

Lebanese sources following the battle in the south reported that Israeli forces advanced five kilometers west from the town of Kfar Kila, moving through olive groves. This advance took advantage of the absence of Hezbollah fighters in Christian areas like Qlayaa, Bir al-Muluk, and Deirmimas.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that this allowed Israeli forces to reach the outskirts of the Litani River for the first time since 2006, cutting off Nabatieh from Marjayoun. Israeli artillery had previously targeted this route several times, and drones had carried out strikes there.

Israel supported its ground advance with heavy artillery fire. Lebanese security sources said Israeli artillery targeted hills overlooking Deirmimas throughout Thursday night into Friday, hitting locations like Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Yihmour, Wadi Zawtar, and Deir Siryan.

This fire typically provides cover for infantry advances. The sources also confirmed that Israeli ground movements were backed by airstrikes and drones for added security.

They speculated the advance followed a route from Kfar Kila through Tall al-Nahas and Bir al-Muluk toward Deirmimas, which is almost empty of residents and has no Hezbollah presence.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli forces in the area, with three statements confirming the targeting of Israeli positions and vehicles near Deirmimas.

Media reports mentioned multiple rocket strikes on Israeli targets in Khiam and near Tall al-Nahas, as well as a guided missile attack on Israeli movements near oil groves close to the Marqos station at Deirmimas’ edge.

A photo shared by Lebanese media showed an Israeli tank behind an exposed hill east of Qlayaa, protected from the west and north. To the south, Israeli forces entered the town of Deirmimas, which overlooks the position.

Military expert Mustafa Asaad said the image, showing a bulldozer behind a tank at the Qlayaa-Marjayoun-Deirmimas junction, suggests that infantry units secured the area—either on foot or in fast vehicles—before entering Deirmimas.

The town’s mayor confirmed to local media that Israeli forces made a “small incursion” into Deirmimas, advancing through olive groves from Kfar Kila.

Hezbollah has stated it does not have military positions in Christian or Druze areas in southern Lebanon, as these communities oppose its presence. Sources close to Hezbollah say this is due to political reasons and security concerns.