Jordanian Central Command
Jordanian Central Command (Arabic: المنطقة العسكرية الوسطى) is the main frontline regional command of the Jordanian Armed Forces. It oversees the central front against Israel, with units stationed from the Zarqa River north of Salt to the Dead Sea.
The command was created in 1977 during a major army reorganization, with its units drawn from the former 4th Mechanized Division, which had been disbanded. In 2000, King Abdullah II restructured the armed forces into lighter, brigade-based formations to improve rapid response. The old 4th Mechanized Division was moved west, covering the area from the Dead Sea to the Zarqa River, in a frontier where the Jordan Valley forms the natural boundary with Israel. High ground above the valley provides defensive positions; forces are kept on the hills rather than in the valley to counter enemy advances, which helps reduce vulnerability to air power and artillery.
The Central Command has fought in major conflicts including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the 1967 Six-Day War, the Battle of Karameh, the War of Attrition, and clashes with Syria during Black September. In 2018, two armored brigades (the 40th and 60th) and other units were transferred from the deactivated 3rd Armored Division to the Central Command. Today, the command has about 13,000–15,000 personnel (2012 estimate), is headquartered in Amman with units in Balqa and Madaba, and is led by Brigadier General Adnan Ahmed Al-Raqqad. It operates as mechanized infantry with a multi‑role mission to defend Jordan’s central front.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:58 (CET).