We will not let Syrian crisis endanger Jordan, insists King Abdullah

Jordan’s King Abdullah has insisted that he will not let the Syrian crisis endanger the kingdom, Anadolu has reported. He made his comments in a meeting with former and current information officials and news editors.

The monarch reiterated that his country is defending itself in the depth [of Syria] without the need to have the Jordanian army inside its northern neighbour. “We have a steadfast position,” he explained. “We are continuous in our battle against the terrorist gangs, on top of which is Daesh.”

King Abdullah stressed that there is no alternative to a political solution for Syria. “This will not be achieved without full US-Russia cooperation,” he pointed out. “The war on terror and Daesh is beyond Syria and Iraq. It demands a comprehensive strategy across the whole world.”

Earlier this week, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad told Russia’s Sputnik news agency that he had information about an imminent Jordanian operation in his country under the pretext of fighting Daesh. Assad accused Jordan of being part of the American plan since the start of the Syrian crisis. “It must obey [the American orders] even if they are against its will,” he claimed.

Jordan has a border with Syria almost 400 km long, so the war across the border is affecting it considerably.

Commenting on the sectarian issue, the Jordanian king said, “We, the Muslims, are one nation and there is no interest for anyone in a Sunni-Shia confrontation.” He suggested, however, that there are “political differences” in the region created by Iran and its interference.