Obama: US to keep 1,500 troops in Jordan
Iran Press TV
Sat Dec 14, 2013 7:2PM GMT
US President Barack Obama has told Congress that American troops stationed in Jordan will remain there until the security situation in Syria improves.
The US military in Jordan is there to help the Jordanian government grapple with security burdens from the unrest in neighboring Syria, Obama said in a presidential letter to lawmakers on Friday.
'These forces will remain in Jordan, in full coordination with the government of Jordan, until the security situation becomes such that they are no longer needed,' Obama's letter said.
The United States has about 1,500 soldiers in Jordan, which are equipped with Patriot missile systems and fighter aircraft.
The number increased to the current total when 700 additional US troops joined the existing US contingent stationed there, at the request of Jordanian King Abdullah, the letter said.
The disclosure was part of a notification to Congress detailing US troop deployments abroad as required by the War Powers resolution.
There are currently more than 560,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. The UN says more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced by the violence.
The US and some of its allies, including Saudi Arabia, openly support the militants fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
AHT/HJ
rs, the foreign troops still have not been able to establish security in the country.
MSM/NN/AS
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