Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prince Feisal Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan said Thursday that the United States has a strong and capable ally in facing Islamic State militants who have swept across the Middle East, and his country will do its best to deal with the expected increase in refugees should the U.S. carry out airstrikes in neighboring Syria.

“It is in times of difficulties that you find out who your friends are,” he said. “And in times of difficulties, Jordan and the United States have stood side by side in dealing with a common threat.”

The prince was in Denver to mark the 10-year partnership between Jordan and the Colorado National Guard, which share information on topics including aircraft maintenance, cybersecurity and women’s leadership.

The meeting with Guard leaders came a day after President Barack Obama ordered the United States into a broad military campaign against Islamic State militants who have taken over parts of Syria and Iraq, two of Jordan’s neighbors.

Feisal said Jordan already has seen an influx of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and his country is trying to balance security with humanitarian aid.

“We foremost want to keep our borders secure from any form of terrorist extremism while also keeping our borders open for the refugees that have come seeking refuge from violence and destruction,” he said, adding that it’s a “very tough balance.”

*AP