US F-16 JETS TO STAY IN JORDAN: PENTAGON

       New York, 7 Sya’ban 1434/16 June 2013 (MINA) – The United States will keep its F-16 jets and patriot missile batteries in Jordan after the joint military exercises with the Arab country, the Pentagon says.

       Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement on Saturday that the missile launchers and the jets would stay in Jordan after the two sides’ joint drill this month.

      According to Press TV report quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel “has approved a request from the Kingdom of Jordan for a detachment of F-16s and Patriot Missiles to remain in Jordan following the conclusion of the Eager Lion Exercise next week,” Little said.

      “All other US personnel assigned to Jordan for Eager Lion will depart at the conclusion of the exercise. The United States enjoys a longstanding partnership with Jordan and is committed to its defense,” he added.

        The move came as western diplomats said on Friday that the US government was considering establishing a no-fly zone over parts of Syria.

        Russia criticized Washington’s decision to keep its military equipment in Syria’s southern neighbor, saying any attempts to impose no-fly zone using F-16 jets and Patriots from Jordan would be illegal.

        “You don’t have to be a great expert to understand that this will violate international law,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

       Meanwhile, the New York Times reported on June 13 that the Obama administration has decided to begin supplying the militants in Syria with small arms and ammunition.

       The assistance, coordinated by the CIA spy agency, could include antitank weapons, the paper said.

       Hawkish US Senator John McCain, who is a staunch supporter of arming the militants in Syria, said on the same day that Washington should even think of plans other than sending weapons to the militants “to change the equation on the battleground.”

       The turmoil in Syria erupted in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed so far.

       In May, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said militants from 29 different countries were fighting against the government in different parts of the country.

       UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on June 13 that at least 93,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the foreign-sponsored militancy against the Syrian government.(T/P05/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)