ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan on Monday hosted a high level international military meeting aimed to discuss the security situation in the region and the ongoing crises in neighboring Syria particularly amid claims of the regime's use of chemical weapons against civilians there.

The Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mashaal al-Zaben and Commander of U.S. Central Command General Lloyd Austin called for the high level military meeting that comes in part of security, military, and political multi-lateral coordination between Jordan and participating nations to coordinate and evaluate ongoing events and their impact on the security of the region.

General Martin Dempsey, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended the meeting, as well as counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada.

The meeting was set to deliberate on the ongoing Syrian crisis and its impact on the security of the region, in addition to discussions on means of military cooperation and coordination between participating nations.

The military spokesperson of the Jordanian Armed Forces General Command said that the meeting comes in part of continuing efforts of bi-lateral and multi-lateral meetings aimed to coordinate security efforts in the region.

Jordan is frustrated by the lack of international recognition of the escalating implications of the crises in the region and the hesitance of the international community in taking swift action to resolve these conflicts, the official said.

He added in statements to Ammon News that Jordan hopes the high level military meeting would turn international attention to the security situation in the region surrounding Jordan, particularly Syria.

"There must be a peaceful and political solution to the crisis in Syria," the official said in reiterating Jordan's position towards the crisis in the neighboring country.

"Jordan has the right to protect the security of its borders, citizens, and interests," the source noted, stressing that Jordan is "capable of defending itself and its territories," highlighting its military capabilities and readiness to instill regional security amid the current conditions afflicting the Middle East.

The meeting comes amid escalating conflicts in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon, but particularly the crisis in Syria which has left over 100,000 civilians dead and displaced millions of Syrians.

Jordan is hosting over 1.2 Syrians in the kingdom, with over 600,000 Syrians registered as refugees living in refugee camps and various Jordanian cities and towns.