US to send missiles and fighter aircraft to Jordan

The US Secretary of Defence has given approval for Patriot missiles and F-16 fighter aircraft to be sent to Jordan to take part in military exercises. A source in Washington revealed that Chuck Hagel gave the go-ahead for the weapons to be shipped to Jordan this week in time for the international “Eager Lion” exercises due to be held later this month.

The Patriot missiles will provide support to Jordan’s own missile defence system at a time when international concerns continue to grow about the Syrian regime’s transfer of sophisticated weapons to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. There are real fears that such weapons will be used against a number of strategic targets in the region.

The US recently sent 200 military experts to Jordan to help the Jordanian armed forces to improve their readiness for war, especially one involving the use of chemical weapons.