US troops to participate in military drill in Jordan

Washington, May 20: US

will take part in a multinational

exercise in

next week in a bid to demonstrate the US commitment to security and stability in the region, the Pentagon said on Monday.

About 6,000 US troops, along with those from more than 20 other nations, will hold the Eager Lion 14 exercise, which will run from May 25 to June 8, Xinhua quoted Pentagon spokesperson Steve Warren as telling reporters.

An estimated 3,000 Jordanian soldiers and some 3,200 troops from over 20 partner-nations will also take part in the drill, Jordan's fourth annual large-scale multilateral military exercises.

This exercise, including flight operations and naval drills, will be carried out at military installations across Jordan and in international waters in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea.

During the exercise, security challenges will be designed to strengthen relationships through a comprehensive, multinational approach, Pentagon officials were quoted by the American Forces Press Service as saying.

IANS