Former army chief Kaabneh laid to rest

AMMAN — Field Marshal Abdul Hafez Kaabneh, former chairman of the joint chiefs-of-staff, who died on Friday, was laid to rest in Madaba on Saturday. 

The former army chief was laid to rest at Alayan cemetery in Um Rasas in a military funeral attended by Sharif Fawaz Zaben, the King’s adviser for tribal affairs, who was deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF).

King's Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben also attended the funeral, along with senior officials and officers, and members of Kaabneh's family, a JAF statement said.

The army paid tribute to its former chief, offering its condolences to his family. 

Kaabneh was born in Madaba in 1937 and joined JAF in 1954.

In 1974, he was assistant commandant of the Royal Jordanian Command and Staff College. He also served as director of military training in 1978 and was appointed as assistant to the chairman of the joint chiefs-of-staff for intelligence in 1984, before assuming the position of army chief between 1993 and 1999.

In 1999, Kaabneh was appointed as military adviser to King Abdullah. 

During his military service, the former army chief took part in many local and international workshops and received several medals.

He also served several times as senator, according to the statement.