Jordan Times

AMMAN — Jordan and the US on Sunday discussed preparations for a military exercise that will be held in the Kingdom in early May with the participation of 17 Arab and foreign countries.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Mashal Al Zaben met with his US counterpart Gen. Martin Dempsey and reviewed the plans for the military drill, for which Jordan has been preparing since the conclusion of a similar exercise in June last year, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

According to a statement posted on the US Department of Defence website, the drill, “Exercise Eager Lion 12”, will take place from May 7 to May 28, bringing together more than 8,000 participants from over five continents.

The land, sea and air drills are aimed at strengthening military-to-military relationships of participating partner nations through a multinational approach, the statement said, quoting Dempsey’s spokesperson Marine Corps Col. David Lapan.

The Jordan Armed Forces are currently participating in a joint military exercise with Kuwait in the Gulf country, scheduled to conclude on April 27.

The drill includes training in riot control and the organisation of military units under the supervision of experts in military police training.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force took part in an international military drill in Bahrain that concluded last Wednesday.