GOJ ATTRIBUTES AQABA ATTACK TO ZARQAWI-LINKED

S E C R E T AMMAN 006845

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015
TAGS: PTER MOPS ASEC IS IZ JO
SUBJECT: GOJ ATTRIBUTES AQABA ATTACK TO ZARQAWI-LINKED
GROUP

REF: A. A) AMMAN 6694


B. B) AMMAN 6740

C. C) AMMAN 6779 (NOTAL)

D. D) TD-314/50933-05

Classified By: CDA CHRISTOPHER HENZEL, REASONS 1.4 B, C, D


1. (SBU) Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Al-Muasher
told visiting Congressman Peter Hoekstra and Charge late
August 23 that Jordan believed the Aqaba rocket attack of
August 19 was carried out by persons with links to Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi,s group. Muasher and other GOJ spokesmen were
quoted to this effect in Jordanian press reports published
August 24.


2. (S) Jordan,s General Intelligence Directorate (GID) told
post August 23 that it believed the persons detained in
connection with the attack may have links to Zarqawi, but its
investigation is not yet complete (ref D.)


3. (C) Comment: Investigators from SIMO, FBI, RSO and DoD
continue to work with the GID. They should soon be able to
provide an independent assessment of the GOJ,s public
statements of August 24.
HENZEL