Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has described its defense relationship with Jordan as reaching unprecedented proportions. Officials said the U.S. military and Defense Department significantly enhanced the relationship with the Hashemite kingdom in 2012. They cited heightened intelligence exchange, increased exercises and cooperation on border security, particularly along the frontier with Syria. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Jordan and the United States have been examining a Syrian Air Force MiG-21 flown by a defector from the regime of President Bashar Assad. Jordanian sources said the MiG-21 was examined by technical crews from the United States and Hashemite kingdom. The sources said the two sides sought to determine […]
Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — For the first time since the Sunni revolt, a Syrian Air Force pilot has escaped with his fighter-jet in an effort to seek political asylum. Officials said a Syrian Air Force pilot Col. Hassan Hammadeh abandoned a training mission in Syria and flew into Jordan with his MiG-21 fighter-jet. They […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — For the first time since the Sunni revolt in March 2011, the United States has begun operations against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Western diplomatic sources said the administration of President Barack Obama has ordered the U.S. intelligence community to ensure the ouster of Assad in 2012. The […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has decided to maintain U.S. military aid to Egypt. A Senate panel has approved a foreign aid budget that maintains U.S. military aid to Egypt for 2013. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations agreed to a request by the administration of President Barack Obama for $1.3 […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Persian Gulf states have opened a weapons line to Sunni rebels in Syria. Opposition sources said at least two Gulf Cooperation Council states were investing tens of millions of dollars per month to equip the rebels with weapons, munitions and basic supplies. The sources said the arms were flowing through such […]
Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Jordan has begun hosting a major military exercise with Arab and NATO allies but has made clear it has no implications for Syria. Jordan’s military has launched Eager Lion-2012, deemed the largest international exercise in the Hashemite Kingdom. Eager Lion, which began on May 9, was comprised of 10,000 troops […]
Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — An airlines established by the Palestinian Authority has resumed operations after an absence of seven years. Palestinian Airlines has begun flights in the Middle East but has not been permitted to land in either the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. Its first flight took place on May 9, leaving […]
Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Egypt has resumed natural gas supplies to Jordan. Officials said Egypt has renewed the operation of the Arab Gas Pipeline earlier this month. They said the pipeline, bombed 14 times since February 2011, would transport up to 70 million cubic feet of gas per day to the Hashemite kingdom. The […]
Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Egypt, canceling its multi-year contract with Israel, has pledged to renew natural gas supplies to Jordan. A senior Jordanian official said Egypt intends to resume gas deliveries to Jordan in early May. The official told Jordan’s official Petra news agency that the Hashemite kingdom would receive 100 million cubic meters […]