While some have suggested that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?s attacks on the USS Ashland and USS Kearsarge on August 19, 2005 signaled a new front opening up against Jordan, that is far from the case. Zarqawi has been a thorn in the side of the Jordanian government ever since he returned to Zarqa in 1992. Zarqawi returned to Zarqa after the Soviet Union was defeated in Afghanistan , and he immediately began recruiting followers. In 1994, Zarqawi was arrested and sent to prison for five years. According to Sami al-Majali, the former head of the Swaqa prison, Zarqawi was a difficult prisoner. ?The man was not an easy person to deal with,? he said diplomatically. Zarqawi was released from prison on March 29, 1999 as part of a broad amnesty with the death of King Hussein.

On August 6, 2005, Zarqawi sent Mohammad Hmeid Hussein, Abdullah Sihli, and his brother Abdul Rahman Sihli across the Al Karama (Karameh) Border Crossing into Jordan where they proceeded to meet up with their father, Mohammad Sihli, to case ?vital targets? in Aqaba.