BICOM

The Pentagon announced over the weekend that it will maintain a detachment of Patriot missiles and a number of fighter jets in Jordan, following the conclusion of a joint military exercise there next week.

The exercise, known as the Eager Lion Exercise is a joint military manoeuvre between the United States and Jordan, which borders conflict-ridden Syria and has absorbed an estimated 500,000 Syrian refugees. The Independent suggests that UK troops could also join the exercise.

Pentagon spokesman George Little said that US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel “has approved a request from the Kingdom of Jordan for a detachment of F-16s and Patriot Missiles to remain in Jordan following the conclusion of the Eager Lion Exercise next week.” The announcement will further suggestions that Jordan could become a staging ground for potential Western military support for opposition groups in Syria seeking the overthrow of President Assad, in particular the establishment of a no-fly zone. The White House last week announced that it would provide military support to Syrian opposition groups, although it remains unclear exactly what this will consist of.

Meanwhile, international efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict is set to be the focus of this week’s G8 meeting in Northern Ireland. The tone was set yesterday during a meeting between Prime Minister David Cameron and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at Downing Street which highlighted the differences between the Russian and Western positions over Syria. Putin insisted that he is supplying arms to the “legitimate” Syrian government, led by Assad and said that arming opposition groups, which Cameron supports, is contrary to the “humanitarian and cultural values” of Europe. Cameron insisted that a diplomatic solution can be found.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi yesterday announced that he has cut ties with the Assad government in Damascus and called for Hezbollah to leave Syria.