At Syria borders:

Hundreds of US combat troops stay in Jordan

Hundreds of US combat troops stay in Jordan
Sat Jun 22, 2013 09:15:52

Washington has left some 700 combat-ready troops in Jordan following a military exercise in the country, which many believe may be used in a possible attack on Syria.

In a letter to the Speaker of House of Representatives John Boehner on Friday, US President Barack Obama said that the deployment was made at the request of the Jordanian government.

He stated that about 700 of the US troops deployed to Jordan as part of a military training exercise, which ended on Thursday, would stay in the country.

The troops will stay until the security situation becomes such that they are no longer required, Obama added, but provided no further details.

"This detachment that participated in the exercise and remained in Jordan includes Patriot missile systems, fighter aircraft, and related support, command, control, and communications personnel and systems," Obama stated.

On June 9, the US held a multinational military exercise in Jordan’s desert areas, bordering Syria. About 8,000 troops from 19 countries participated in the exercise.

On June 4, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich issued a statement, saying, “We have more than once stated our opinion on this -- foreign weapons are being pumped into an explosive region.”

“This is happening very close to Syria, where for more than two years the flames are burning of a devastating conflict,” the statement added.

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