Jordan Rings In New Year On Tough Note: We Can Handle Our Syrian ‘Chemical’ Neighbor
Jordan has said it is prepared to deal with any potential chemical weapon threat posed by the violence in neighbouring Syria.
The country, however, added that it will not enter “any alliance” to protect itself.
Jordan, the US and others have expressed concern that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could use chemical weapons in a last-ditch effort to save his regime, the Gulf News reports.
Information Minister Sameeh Maaytah did not give details on Jordan’s capabilities to thwart a chemical attack in remarks carried by the official Petra news agency on Sunday.
According to the report, other Jordanian officials have, however, said US and British military experts have provided training in protecting civilians in case of a chemical attack on Jordanian territory.
Maaytah also said the 21-month Syrian crisis has put enormous pressure on Jordan’s infrastructure as it now hosts 275,000 refugees, the report said.
The remarks comes just days after Arabic and Israeli media revealed that Jordan’s King Abdullah recently secretly met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Amman to discuss the threat of Syrian chemical weapons falling into the hands of Islamist extremists, the report added.
