Syrian invasion of Jordan
| Syrian invasion of Jordan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Black September and the Arab Cold War | |||||||
T-54 tank of the Syrian army during invasion. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
Syria PLO | Jordan | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Nureddin al-Atassi Salah Jadid Yasser Arafat |
Hussein Habis Majali Zeid bin Shaker | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
16,000 troops 250–300 tanks and armoured vehicles |
65,000–74,000 troops 500 tanks and armoured vehicles | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
150 killed and wounded, 200 captured 120 armoured vehicles (62 of them is tanks T-54 and T-55) |
537 killed, 1,500 wounded 75–90 tanks 1+ armored car | ||||||
The Syrian invasion of Jordan began on 18 September 1970 in support of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) amid Black September. Syria conducted a short-lived incursion toward Irbid in northern Jordan, before being forced to withdraw due to heavy casualties. Syria's supposed aim was to help the Palestinian fedayeen overthrow the Hashemite monarchy.