On 19 December, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed its support for Jordan in the face of any efforts to undermine its stability and security, according to Al-Awsat news.

Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, secretary general of the GCC, stated that the council firmly rejects all forms of terrorism, extremism, and violence.

He further stated that the group supports Jordan in all efforts made to protect the security and safety of its people and citizens.

The GCC secretary general praised the Jordanian security services’ attentiveness in handling the crisis and emphasized the need to increase global collaboration in battling terrorism and cutting off its funding sources.

Hajraf’s remarks came after a Jordanian police force was ambushed on 15 December during the nationwide protests, which led to the death of police Colonel Abdul-Razzaq al-Dalabeh, in the Husseiniya area.

Since then, the Jordanian King and officials vowed to restore order with an “iron fist” and ensure all criminals and vandals are brought to justice.

As a result, a unit of the GSD special forces raided a terrorist cell in the Husseiniya area in Maan.

The Jordanian General Security Directorate (GSD) issued a statement on 19 December, mourning the death of three of its members and the injury of eight others during a raid to arrest the alleged killers of a police colonel in Maan Governorate.

The GSD statement added that a large cache of weapons and ammunition was seized, stressing that investigations with those arrested are ongoing and will be announced in due time.

Over the past few days, tensions have risen in Maan and several other cities in southern Jordan following sporadic strikes by truck drivers protesting high fuel prices and demanding diesel price cuts.

The hike in fuel prices has squeezed household incomes and hit lower-income groups disproportionately.

According to World Bank reports, Jordan is heavily in debt and faces approximately 23 percent unemployment.

On the other hand, representatives of the protests in Maan signed an agreement with members of the parliament to end their 17-day strike, according to Arab News.

The agreement stipulates a promise by the lawmakers to satisfy the protesters’ demands to lower fuel taxes in exchange for ending the “disruption to traffic and supply chains.”