June 11, 2013—Amman, Jordan—While headlines continue to trickle out of the neighboring civil war in Syria, the US and Jordan kicked off a wide-ranging multi-national military exercise Sunday, touting wide participation of many Arab and allied militaries as a show of stability in the Middle East.
According to US Central Command officials and statements, humanitarian relief and crisis management, involving non government agency civilians as well as Jordanian military and exercise participants also are a part of the effort. Jordan is home to over a half million refugees from neighboring Syria, by official estimates, a number which continues to rise steadily as the Assad government fights for control of key cities and towns.