US-Jordan Military Exercises Likely Are Linked to Syria
By Tamer Samadi/ Al Hayat
Yesterday [June 20], the largest military exercises involving Jordanian, American, Western and Arab forces ended in Jordan. Meanwhile, the controversy has escalated over whether or not these exercises have to do with the fierce war in Syria that has been raging for more than two years, particularly since the United States has decided to keep some of its troops in Jordan indefinitely. This is in addition to the presence of the Patriot missile system, F-16 fighter jets, and [US] chemical weapons military experts.
The Chief of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Mashal al-Zabin, announced for the first time that US defensive weapons and their staff will remain on Jordanian territory. This came after the government officially denied that US troops would stay in Jordan following the end of the exercises.
In a statement posted on the army’s website yesterday evening, Zabin said, “The United Stated met our request to send the Patriot missile battery and some F-16 aircraft to Jordan. These weapons — with their staff, including ground support and the operating staff that they need — will remain with us as long as Jordan needs them. This is because Jordan’s interests, security and stability are above all considerations. We should defend our country, and be ready for what is taking place in the region.”
Jordanian military officials reiterated that the Eager Lion military exercises, which were the largest in the past two decades, have nothing to do with what is going on in the region and in Syria. Yet, Gulf military sources that took part in the exercises told Al-Hayat that “the exercises send warning messages to the regime in Damascus,” without giving any further details.
The exercises showed that the US military has strengthened its presence on Jordanian territory. These exercises seemed to be similar to joint exercises between the Jordanian and US armies, knowing that their supervisors confirmed that participants [came] from 17 countries and just have observer status.
US army commanders insinuated that their country may keep additional forces in Jordan. However, they noted that the political leadership in Washington would be the one to take such decisions.
The same applies to the Jordanian military commanders who refused to delve into the possibility of keeping US troops [in Jordan], and contented themselves by saying that this issue is up to the Jordanian political leadership. Yet, some of these commanders confirmed that Jordan currently hosts US experts to train their Jordanian counterparts to take control over chemical weapons sites.
US naval ships carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles are stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean and near the Jordanian coast. CNN reported that this summer Washington will be sending troops specialized in military planning from the first armored division to Amman.
Jordanian army colonel and spokesman for the forces taking part in the exercises, Mekhled Awas Suheim, said that the exercises focused on a non-conventional war, including “fighting terrorism, resisting the rebels, strategic transport, and crises arising from the influx of refugees.”
Suheim refused to reveal the number and location of Patriot batteries and fighter jets that would remain in Jordan after the exercises.
The brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein, Zabin, and senior military commanders representing the US, France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar attended the exercises over the past two days.
The exercises — taking place in the al-Quwayra region nearly 380 kilometers [235 miles] from Amman — were attended by nearly 800 US and Jordanian troops. They included air and naval exercises carried out by US and Jordanian warships, fighter jets and helicopters, along with ground operations associated with skirmishes using tanks and heavy machine guns.
Remarkably, the exercises included American and Jordanian tanks simulating attacks on chemical weapons sites. The United States confirmed its commitment to protect Jordan, in case of a military involvement with Syria.
Jordanian military sources revealed to Al-Hayat that the Jordanian army has strengthened its [military] presence on the border with Syria, and noted that it has imposed the maximum state of emergency within its military sectors.
In the meantime, Jordanian media circles criticized the authorities’ discretion regarding the hastened preparations to avoid the Syrian crisis’ risk.
They pointed out that at a certain moment and to meet its security requirements, Jordan, just like all countries neighboring Syria, may find itself in a conundrum.
*Al Monitor
By Tamer Samadi/ Al Hayat
Yesterday [June 20], the largest military exercises involving Jordanian, American, Western and Arab forces ended in Jordan. Meanwhile, the controversy has escalated over whether or not these exercises have to do with the fierce war in Syria that has been raging for more than two years, particularly since the United States has decided to keep some of its troops in Jordan indefinitely. This is in addition to the presence of the Patriot missile system, F-16 fighter jets, and [US] chemical weapons military experts.
The Chief of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Mashal al-Zabin, announced for the first time that US defensive weapons and their staff will remain on Jordanian territory. This came after the government officially denied that US troops would stay in Jordan following the end of the exercises.
In a statement posted on the army’s website yesterday evening, Zabin said, “The United Stated met our request to send the Patriot missile battery and some F-16 aircraft to Jordan. These weapons — with their staff, including ground support and the operating staff that they need — will remain with us as long as Jordan needs them. This is because Jordan’s interests, security and stability are above all considerations. We should defend our country, and be ready for what is taking place in the region.”
Jordanian military officials reiterated that the Eager Lion military exercises, which were the largest in the past two decades, have nothing to do with what is going on in the region and in Syria. Yet, Gulf military sources that took part in the exercises told Al-Hayat that “the exercises send warning messages to the regime in Damascus,” without giving any further details.
The exercises showed that the US military has strengthened its presence on Jordanian territory. These exercises seemed to be similar to joint exercises between the Jordanian and US armies, knowing that their supervisors confirmed that participants [came] from 17 countries and just have observer status.
US army commanders insinuated that their country may keep additional forces in Jordan. However, they noted that the political leadership in Washington would be the one to take such decisions.
The same applies to the Jordanian military commanders who refused to delve into the possibility of keeping US troops [in Jordan], and contented themselves by saying that this issue is up to the Jordanian political leadership. Yet, some of these commanders confirmed that Jordan currently hosts US experts to train their Jordanian counterparts to take control over chemical weapons sites.
US naval ships carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles are stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean and near the Jordanian coast. CNN reported that this summer Washington will be sending troops specialized in military planning from the first armored division to Amman.
Jordanian army colonel and spokesman for the forces taking part in the exercises, Mekhled Awas Suheim, said that the exercises focused on a non-conventional war, including “fighting terrorism, resisting the rebels, strategic transport, and crises arising from the influx of refugees.”
Suheim refused to reveal the number and location of Patriot batteries and fighter jets that would remain in Jordan after the exercises.
The brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein, Zabin, and senior military commanders representing the US, France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar attended the exercises over the past two days.
The exercises — taking place in the al-Quwayra region nearly 380 kilometers [235 miles] from Amman — were attended by nearly 800 US and Jordanian troops. They included air and naval exercises carried out by US and Jordanian warships, fighter jets and helicopters, along with ground operations associated with skirmishes using tanks and heavy machine guns.
Remarkably, the exercises included American and Jordanian tanks simulating attacks on chemical weapons sites. The United States confirmed its commitment to protect Jordan, in case of a military involvement with Syria.
Jordanian military sources revealed to Al-Hayat that the Jordanian army has strengthened its [military] presence on the border with Syria, and noted that it has imposed the maximum state of emergency within its military sectors.
In the meantime, Jordanian media circles criticized the authorities’ discretion regarding the hastened preparations to avoid the Syrian crisis’ risk.
They pointed out that at a certain moment and to meet its security requirements, Jordan, just like all countries neighboring Syria, may find itself in a conundrum.
*Al Monitor
By Tamer Samadi/ Al Hayat
Yesterday [June 20], the largest military exercises involving Jordanian, American, Western and Arab forces ended in Jordan. Meanwhile, the controversy has escalated over whether or not these exercises have to do with the fierce war in Syria that has been raging for more than two years, particularly since the United States has decided to keep some of its troops in Jordan indefinitely. This is in addition to the presence of the Patriot missile system, F-16 fighter jets, and [US] chemical weapons military experts.
The Chief of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Mashal al-Zabin, announced for the first time that US defensive weapons and their staff will remain on Jordanian territory. This came after the government officially denied that US troops would stay in Jordan following the end of the exercises.
In a statement posted on the army’s website yesterday evening, Zabin said, “The United Stated met our request to send the Patriot missile battery and some F-16 aircraft to Jordan. These weapons — with their staff, including ground support and the operating staff that they need — will remain with us as long as Jordan needs them. This is because Jordan’s interests, security and stability are above all considerations. We should defend our country, and be ready for what is taking place in the region.”
Jordanian military officials reiterated that the Eager Lion military exercises, which were the largest in the past two decades, have nothing to do with what is going on in the region and in Syria. Yet, Gulf military sources that took part in the exercises told Al-Hayat that “the exercises send warning messages to the regime in Damascus,” without giving any further details.
The exercises showed that the US military has strengthened its presence on Jordanian territory. These exercises seemed to be similar to joint exercises between the Jordanian and US armies, knowing that their supervisors confirmed that participants [came] from 17 countries and just have observer status.
US army commanders insinuated that their country may keep additional forces in Jordan. However, they noted that the political leadership in Washington would be the one to take such decisions.
The same applies to the Jordanian military commanders who refused to delve into the possibility of keeping US troops [in Jordan], and contented themselves by saying that this issue is up to the Jordanian political leadership. Yet, some of these commanders confirmed that Jordan currently hosts US experts to train their Jordanian counterparts to take control over chemical weapons sites.
US naval ships carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles are stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean and near the Jordanian coast. CNN reported that this summer Washington will be sending troops specialized in military planning from the first armored division to Amman.
Jordanian army colonel and spokesman for the forces taking part in the exercises, Mekhled Awas Suheim, said that the exercises focused on a non-conventional war, including “fighting terrorism, resisting the rebels, strategic transport, and crises arising from the influx of refugees.”
Suheim refused to reveal the number and location of Patriot batteries and fighter jets that would remain in Jordan after the exercises.
The brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein, Zabin, and senior military commanders representing the US, France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar attended the exercises over the past two days.
The exercises — taking place in the al-Quwayra region nearly 380 kilometers [235 miles] from Amman — were attended by nearly 800 US and Jordanian troops. They included air and naval exercises carried out by US and Jordanian warships, fighter jets and helicopters, along with ground operations associated with skirmishes using tanks and heavy machine guns.
Remarkably, the exercises included American and Jordanian tanks simulating attacks on chemical weapons sites. The United States confirmed its commitment to protect Jordan, in case of a military involvement with Syria.
Jordanian military sources revealed to Al-Hayat that the Jordanian army has strengthened its [military] presence on the border with Syria, and noted that it has imposed the maximum state of emergency within its military sectors.
In the meantime, Jordanian media circles criticized the authorities’ discretion regarding the hastened preparations to avoid the Syrian crisis’ risk.
They pointed out that at a certain moment and to meet its security requirements, Jordan, just like all countries neighboring Syria, may find itself in a conundrum.
*Al Monitor
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US-Jordan Military Exercises Likely Are Linked to Syria
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