Jordan

A Saudi-led coalition force of 41 countries is now taking shape and has found a focus: protecting member nations against the threat from Islamic State as the militant group’s strongholds in Iraq and Syria disintegrate. The coalition, sometimes referred to as the “Muslim NATO,” is expected to have its first substantive meeting over the next […]

The Trump administration is in talks with Arab allies about having them form a military alliance that would share intelligence with Israel to help counter their mutual foe, Iran, several Middle Eastern officials said. The alliance would include countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that are avowed enemies of Israel, as […]

U.S. military officials are considering ways to ramp up training of Syrian fighters against the Islamic State as the Pentagon moves cautiously forward with a revamped program to create an effective local ground force. Several U.S. officials, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military efforts, described the steps the Pentagon has taken since late […]

U.S. Marines and Jordanian armed forces took part in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare training Wednesday, amid recent reports that Islamic State militants used chemical weapons in Syria and Iraq. And while none of the scenarios during this year’s Eager Lion exercise are aimed at specific groups or threats, what is happening in the […]

Only Jordan and the United States are to take part in this year’s Eager Lion military exercise, commanders said on Sunday, compared with the 18 nations which participated last year. A total of 6,000 troops will undertake 10 days of maneuvers in the kingdom — 3,000 from each country and including special forces as well […]

With war and insurgencies imperiling nation states throughout the Middle East and Africa, military commanders and government officials from around the world are convening May 9  here for the biennial Middle East Special Operations Commanders Conference (MESOC) and Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX). Under the patronage of Jordanian King Abdullah II and in collaboration with the […]

Israel will open a permanent office at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters in Brussels, the alliance announced Wednesday in a sign of warming relations between Israel and Turkey. While not a member of the alliance, Israel is one of more than a dozen nations designated by the U.S. as a major non-NATO ally. Turkey, […]

Norway will send some 60 troops, including special forces soldiers, to train, advise and give operational support to Syrian fighters battling Islamic State militants, the country’s prime minister said on Monday. The troops will be based in Jordan. The Norwegian Parliament will need to be consulted if the troops are to operate within Syria, Prime […]

SAS forces have been deployed in Libya since the beginning of the year, according to a confidential briefing given to US congressional leaders by the king of Jordan. A leaked memo indicates the US lawmakers were personally briefed by King Abdullah in January about plans for Jordan’s special forces to operate in the country alongside […]

Warplanes roared overhead, tanks rumbled across the desert and smoke filled the sky on Thursday during the final stage of what Saudi Arabia said were the region’s biggest ever military exercises. Nearly 350,000 ground troops from 20 nations in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, including the UAE, took part in the last day of […]