The US Patriot missiles and F-16 fighter jets taking part in an ongoing multinational military exercise in Jordan will remain there after the drills conclude.
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has approved a request from the Government of Jordan for a detachment of F-16s and Patriot Missiles to remain in the Middle East country following the conclusion of the Eager Lion Exercise next week, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement on Saturday. All other U.S. personnel assigned to Jordan for Eager Lion will depart at the conclusion of the exercise, Little added.
"The United States enjoys a long-standing partnership with Jordan and is committed to its defense," the statement said in apparent reference to the security threat from neighboring Syria.
The Obama administration earlier this week had indicated it would give the rebels "direct military aid" after alleging that the Syrian forces used chemical weapons in attacks targeting rebels.
There were unconfirmed reports on Friday quoting Western diplomats that Washington was considering establishing a no-fly zone in Syria in the lines of one set up in Libya that led to the ouster of the Qadhafi regime. US fighter jets and anti-aircraft missiles were sent to Syria's neighbor Jordan earlier this month for military exercises.
An annual multinational military exercise involving thousands of service members from 19 countries is taking place at various locations around Jordan. The drills, codenamed Eager Lion, runs through June 20. Majority of them are U.S. service members from all services are participating in this year's exercise, along with Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and ships.
The combined training, led by the Jordanian armed forces, is to strengthen the partnership between 19 countries and increase the ability of participating nations to operate together during any contingency," said Army Maj. Gen. Robert G. Catalanotti, U.S. Central Command's director of exercises and training.
More than 8,000 Eager Lion participants are conducting operations by land, air and sea. The exercise includes events such as visit, board, search and seizure techniques and live-fire demonstrations.
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