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Jordan marks army Arabisation’s 61st anniversary

King, Crown Prince underline significance of historic decision

By JT - Mar 01,2017 - Last updated at Mar 01,2017

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday said that Jordan’s 1956 decision to replace senior British officers with Jordanians entrenched Jordan’s sovereignty and independence.

In a tweet on the Royal Court's official account on the 61st anniversary of the Arabisation of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), marked on March 1, the King said: "On the anniversary of the Arabisation of the leadership of our Arab Army, we celebrate this national decision, which consolidated the sovereignty and independence of our homeland."

For his part, HRH Crown Prince Hussein also highlighted the importance of the occasion through a post on Instagram that said: "May our Arab Army always be free, righteous and a shield for the nation and its people #OurJordan".

King Abdullah on Wednesday also received cables of congratulations from senior officials and officers on the anniversary.

In 1956, His Majesty the late King Hussein Arabised the higher command of JAF by removing British officers, particularly Lt. General John Bagot Glubb, British commander of the Arab Legion. 

In March 1957, the Anglo-Jordanian Agreement was scrapped, followed by the evacuation of British forces from the Kingdom.

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