Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have sought safe haven from the violence at home in neighbouring Jordan, where the influx of migrants has triggered concerns over inflation and job losses. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has said more than 700 000 Iraqis fled to Jordan in the aftermath of the United States-led 2003 war.

Jordan said on Thursday it has arrested several suspects over hotel bombings that killed 56 people in the deadliest attacks in the kingdom’s history, claimed by homegrown extremist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s militants. The group of al-Zarqawi, who heads al-Qaeda’s Iraq operations, warned of more to come.

Jordan was on Thursday hunting the masterminds of the worst attacks in the kingdom’s history that killed 57 people and were claimed by the group of homegrown extremist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The suicide attacks late on Wednesday on one of the closest United States allies in the Middle East targeted three luxury hotels in the Jordanian capital.