King, Crown Prince attend ceremony marking 51st anniversary of Karameh

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, on Thursday attended a ceremony at the Unknown Soldier Monument in the Jordan Valley to mark the 51st anniversary of the Karameh Battle, according to a Royal Court statement.

On March 21, 1968, Jordanian soldiers repelled an Israeli attack on the small Karameh town in the Jordan Valley, whose name means "dignity".

Eighty-six Jordanian soldiers lost their lives in the battle and 108 were wounded.

The Israeli raid was repelled with heavy losses as the Jordanian army launched an artillery barrage against Israeli tanks. A total of 250 Israeli soldiers were killed and 450 were wounded, according to official sources.

A 21-gun salute welcomed His Majesty as he arriving at the ceremony site, where he was received by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat and other high ranking officers. 

The King reviewed the guard of honour, laid wreaths at the monument and recited verses from the Koran at the site, according to the statement.

Also during the ceremony, JAF Mufti Brig. Gen. Majed Darawsheh paid tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Arab Army.

The Supreme Commander and the Crown Prince greeted several Royal family members, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz and other senior officials and high ranking officers, the statement said.