His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday instructed the government to declare February 15 a national day to honour war veterans and retired military personnel who fought wars in defence of the country and the Arab nation.

In a letter to Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh as the Kingdom commemorates the 44th Anniversary of Al Karameh Battle, the King said February 15 was the day when an army unit fought a heroic battle in 1968 before Al Karameh Battle in which the commander of the Second Al Hussein Battalion, Major Mansour Kreishan, six of his comrades and a number of civilians were martyred.

"We designate this day as a national occasion to express our pride in the sacrifices of war veterans for the nation," the King added in his letter.