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AMMAN — In the past few days, wailing sirens have become a part of daily life in Amman. Since Israel's attack on Iran, missiles have been flying over Jordan, triggering air raid alarms to warn citizens.
While life mostly continues as normal, airlines are cancelling flights and military jets are patrolling over the city, rattling windows across neighbourhoods.
Mohammad Abbadi, a sports teacher, has noticed how the children are reacting to the new circumstances.
"The students are always afraid. When we hear the siren during class outside on the playground, they become anxious and return to the classroom angry and scared," Abbadi said.
The teacher tries his best to make the children feel comfortable in these circumstances by playing football outside or staying inside when the sirens sound.
The 26-year-old hopes he can go back to teaching as before soon, without having to interrupt class because of wailing sirens.
Heeba Nazeer came to Jordan from the US for an internship at an NGO. Now she is leaving early due to the war.
"I feel safe right now, but there is this sense of impending doom since it is really uncertain what is going to happen within the next 24 hours. I am always checking my phone, hoping nothing disastrous has happened," Nazeer said.
Cancelled flights have made it difficult to plan ahead, which is why the 24-year-old chose to leave now.
The US raised its travel advisory for Jordan to Level 4, recommending that US citizens do not travel to Jordan. "A lot of my international friends are evacuating as well," said Nazeer.
The war started during the holy month of Ramadan, disrupting the peace that Ramadan was supposed to bring.
When the thunder of the military jets echoed overhead, people paused their activities for a moment to look at the sky, searching for the source of the noise.
During sunset in downtown Amman, a long white line in the sky was proof of an intercepted missile.
A street vendor laughed and pointed at the white stripe in the sky. "Don't worry," he said to a couple of tourists. "In Jordan, you are safe!"
At night, one could see the missiles flying over the country, heading towards Israel. People gathered on rooftops to see what was happening with their own eyes — fascinated by the blinding lights, but hoping that the war would end soon.
