Country Jordan Type Mechanized Infantry | Branch Royal Jordanian Army Role Multi Role | |
 | ||
Active 1970 – 2000 (12th Mech. Div.)
2000 – present Size 15,000 - 18,000 (2012 est.) | ||
The Jordanian Northern Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الشمالية) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the defense of the northern front against possible attack by Syria or Israel.
Contents
History
Since the major reorganisation of 1977 the Royal Jordanian Army has kept the Northern Command (Formerly known as 12th Mechanized Division) deployed from Ramtha through Umm Qays to the Zarqa River in a defensive posture that cover both Israel and Syria. But in 2000, King Abdullah II made a big step to modernize and restructure Jordanian Armed Forces, with the divisions being transformed into lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.
The 12th Mechanised Division was normally deployed facing west (towards Israel) and north (towards Syria) from the Zarqa river, around Umm Qais, to Ramtha. The western part of Jordan's frontier with Syria is a deep gorge along the Yarmuk River, but there is flatter ground further to the east where an attack could take place; Jordanian forces traditionally maintained a defensive posture along this sector.
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.
This command was involved in many wars, including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition and the war against the Syrian army when it tried to enter Jordan in the Black September conflict.
Organisation
The Northern Command commands regional units from Um Qais in Irbid to the Zarqa River south of Jerash, with a presence in Ar Ramtha. Brigadier General Mahmoud Falah Maaytah was appointed commander of the Northern Command.