Multinational military deployment seen on Syrian borders: TV report
Xinhua, May 8, 2017 Adjust font size:
A massive U.S., British and Jordanian military movement was spotted near the southern Syrian borders in what appeared to be the near "zero hour on the Syrian-Jordanian borders," pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported Monday.
The military buildup is along the borders with Syria's southern provinces of Daraa and Swaida, said the report, adding that British Challenger tanks, Cobra choppers and Black Hawks were also spotted.
Al-Mayadeen, meanwhile, cited "well informed sources" in Syria as stating that the Syrian government and its allies are "closely watching what is happening on the Syrian-Jordanian borders."
The sources said the current joint war games hosted by Jordan are "suspicious" and aim to "cover for the project of invading Syrian territories and occupying them under the pretext of fighting the Islamic State (IS) militants who have no presence in that part of the country."
Earlier in the day, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem warned Jordan that any military intervention in southern Syria will receive the right response, and the Jordanian forces will be seen as enemy forces.
His remark came as a response to comments by a Jordanian official that Jordan might enter deep into Syria to protect its national security.
Previous remarks by Syrian government officials suggested that Jordan is planning an incursion into southern Syria, under the pretext of securing its borders from the spillover effect of the Syrian crisis. Endit