How King Hussein Crushed the PLO in Jordan | Real History #Shorts

Added: 2026-04-29

[00:00:00]What happens when a king decides his own capital has become enemy territory? In September 1970, the streets of Ammon exploded into war as King Hussein of Jordan ordered the army to crush powerful Palestinian guerrilla factions operating inside his kingdom. This conflict became known as Black September and it changed the Middle East forever.

[00:00:23]The roots of the crisis began after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. When Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled into Jordan, joining earlier refugee communities. Many were angry, displaced, and unwilling to accept defeat armed groups like Fotar, led by Yaserafhat, and the popular front for the liberation of Palestine grew rapidly.

[00:00:48]They launched trades into Israel from Jordanian soil, but Israeli retaliation often struck Jordanian towns and villages. Soon the guerillas became more than fighters. They carried weapons openly in Aean. Set up checkpoints and challenged police authority. Many Jordanians feared the state was losing control. Then came the moment that shocked the world. In September 1970, the PFLP hijacked multiple international airliners and forced several to land in Jordan at Dawson's Field. Days later, the empty planes were blown up in front of cameras for King Hussein. This was the final humiliation. Jordan could no longer survive with rival armies on its soil. Before sunrise on September 17th, artillery thundered across Aman tanks, rolled through city streets, apartment blocks, refugee camps and alleyways became battlefields.

[00:01:41]Families hid in basements while soldiers and fedí exchanged fire across the capital. The fighting spread north and even Syrian armored forces crossed into Jordan and supported the guerillas. But Jordan counteratt attacked and Syria withdrew. Thousands were killed, though the true number remains disputed. By late September, a ceasefire ended the worst of the battle. But the story was far from over. The Palestinian movement would soon be driven from Jordan and the desire for revenge would give birth to a new militant group called Black September. And one year later, the world would hear that name again in blood and tragedy. If you want the full story of how Jordan's civil war re Lebanon transformed Palestinian politics and echoed across the world, watch the full documentary