Jordan closes main border crossing with Syria due to clashes

Iran Press TV

Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:13AM GMT

Jordan has closed its main border crossing with Syria following intense clashes between the Syrian army and foreign-backed militant groups in Syria near the Jordanian border.

Jordanian Information Minister Samih Maaytah said Monday, “The border post is effectively closed because there have been clashes since yesterday and they are continuing.”

Border traders also said passengers were turned back at Jordan’s border point of Jaber and prevented from crossing.

This is the first time Amman closes a border crossing since unrest erupted in neighboring Syria in March 2011.

Jordan has also played a role in the Syrian turmoil by allowing the United States and its Western allies to use its soil for training the militants fighting against the Syrian government and shipping weapons into Syria.

According to a report by the New York Times on March 24, the US spy agency, CIA, has been shipping weapons into Syria via Jordan and Turkey since early 2012.

On March 10, the German weekly Der Spiegel, also reported, citing sources familiar with the case, that US troops deployed to the Jordanian border are training the militants.

MKA/HSN