Jordan asks US to deploy Patriot air defense systems

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Jordan has asked the United States to deploy Patriot air defense systems on its soil, according to Jordanian Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mustafa Hiyari.

“This system is an expensive system, and there’s no way to provide it with local resources,” he told state media Oct. 29. “We need a strategic partner .”

“There are potential ballistic missile threats against Jordan,” he added, without specifying them.

Jordan does not host American bases, Hiyari said, but the U.S. does have a presence in the country to train Jordanian forces and provide upgrades and maintenance to equipment. In January 2021, the countries signed a defense cooperation agreement, which gives the U.S. “ unimpeded access ” to certain Jordanian facilities.

Also on Sunday, the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces dismissed allegations that U.S. aircraft were using local air bases to supply Israel with equipment and ammunition for use in the Israel-Hamas war .

The military alleged the aim of such allegations is to undermine Jordan’s steadfast support of Palestine and to tarnish the reputation of its armed forces. It said Jordanian field hospitals are attending to the casualties from attacks on in the Gaza Strip and the Royal Jordanian Air Force remains committed to delivering humanitarian and relief aid to Palestinians.

The Jordanian government called for an end to violence in Gaza and warned of dangerous repercussions. It has also condemned Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people and emphasized Jordan’s role in protecting the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Awad Mustafa was a Middle East and Africa correspondent for Defense News.

阿联酋迪拜——据约旦陆军发言人穆斯塔法·希亚里准将称，约旦已请求美国在其领土上部署爱国者防空系统。

“这套系统造价昂贵，当地资源根本无法提供，”他10月29日对官方媒体表示，“我们需要一个战略合作伙伴。”

他补充说：“约旦可能面临弹道导弹威胁”，但没有具体说明是哪些导弹。

希亚里表示，约旦境内没有美军基地，但美国在约旦设有机构，负责训练约旦军队，并提供装备升级和维护服务。2021年1月，两国签署了一项防务合作协议，该协议赋予美国“不受阻碍地使用”约旦某些设施的权限。

同样在周日，约旦武装部队总司令部驳斥了有关美国飞机利用当地空军基地向以色列提供装备和弹药，用于以色列与哈马斯战争的指控。

军方声称，此类指控旨在破坏约旦对巴勒斯坦的坚定支持，并损害其武装部队的声誉。军方表示，约旦野战医院正在救治加沙地带袭击事件中的伤员，约旦皇家空军将继续致力于向巴勒斯坦人民提供人道主义援助和救援物资。

约旦政府呼吁停止加沙地带的暴力活动，并警告称此举将带来危险的后果。约旦政府还谴责以色列对待巴勒斯坦人民的方式，并强调约旦在保护耶路撒冷伊斯兰教和基督教圣地方面发挥的作用。

阿瓦德·穆斯塔法曾是《防务新闻》的中东和非洲记者。