US in Jordan War Games as Syrian Army Progresses

Local Editor

US ground and air forces held joint exercises with their Jordanian counterparts as the conflict in Syria showed more progress for army troops, according to Petra news agency on Wednesday.

"The Royal Jordanian and US Air Forces carried out live fire exercises with F-16 and F-18 fighters, and practiced aerial maneuvers," the official Petra news agency reported.

Among those taking part in this year's war games are more than 1,000 soldiers and marines that Washington kept stationed in Jordan after last year's "Eager Lion" maneuvers.

The exercises centered on the sprawling Muwaffaq Salti air base in the eastern desert, which has long been seen as the most likely launchpad for any US intervention in Syria, like that which Washington briefly threatened late last year [2013].

The maneuvers, which are to last for several weeks and involve thousands of personnel from a total of 24 countries, came as US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made a lightning visit to Jordan Wednesday for talks on the Syrian conflict.
Hagel held talks with Jordan's Crown Prince Faisal and armed forces chief General Mashal al-Zaben, before flying on to Tel Aviv in the occupied territories, a Jordanian official said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team