WASHINGTON -- Jordan has increased participation in U.S.-led
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, officials said. The Hashemite kingdom has been
training Iraqi security forces as well as providing medical care in
Afghanistan, they said.
"We have two hospitals, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan," Royal
Jordanian Air Force Col. Nart Alkhas said. "This is something we agreed to
do with the American people. This is something we share."
Amman has also provided the Iraq Army and police with platforms and
weapons, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said the kingdom has donated 250 armored personnel
carriers to the Iraqi Defense Ministry.
Jordan has trained more than 20,000 Iraqi police and security forces at
a facility outside Amman. The kingdom has also formed and trained the first
all-female Iraq Army military police company.
Jordan is part of a 63-nation coalition with headquarters at U.S.
Central Command in Tampa, Fla. The kingdom receives more than $250 million
in U.S. military aid per year.
On Feb. 8, Jordan's King Abdullah was scheduled to meet President George
Bush in the White House. Officials said the two men would discuss bilateral
and regional issues, particularly the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
"The United States appreciates Jordan's friendship and partnership in
many important areas, including Iraq, the war against terrorism, and the
struggle against extremism," a White House statement said on Feb. 3. "The
president looks forward to discussing with the king these and other
bilateral and regional issues."
The Jordanian vehicles have been identified as 50 Ukrainian-built BTR-94
APCs, 100 British Spartans and 100 U.S.-origin M113A1 APCs. Officials said
Jordan also donated two C-130B Hercules transport aircraft to the Iraq Air
Force as well as 16 UH-1H utility helicopters.
Officials said the kingdom has trained Iraqi air force pilots. At the
same time, Jordanian noncommissioned officers helped train the Iraqi
military's NCO corps throughout Iraq.
In Afghanistan, Jordan has established a 50-bed Jordanian military
hospital in Masar-e-Sharif. The facility cares for more than 650 patients a
day, and officials said Jordan has treated more than 50,000 people since
2001.
Jordan has also established a military hospital in Iraq. Officials said
the hospital has treated more than four million people and in some cases
sent those with serious illnesses to Jordan.
Jordan has also participated in the United Nations Stabilization Mission
in Haiti, officials said. Since December 2005, three Jordanian soldiers were
killed in Haiti.
