2019 Eager Lion drill wraps up

AMMAN — The 2019 "Eager Lion" drill concluded on Thursday with a tactical attacking exercise that was carried out by elected units of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), and the US army.

The exercise was conducted in one of the JAF's training fields in the presence of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti and Commander of the US Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, in addition to a number of JAF senior officers and senior military officers participating in the 2019 Eager Lion drill, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The commands and units participating in the exercise demonstrated a high level of coordination and implementation of the joint operations, manoeuvring, support, services for participating troops and high efficiency in the firing of various weapons used in the implementation of ground operations. 

Various light and medium weaponry and artillery were used in the exercise which also focused on dealing with minefields, reconnaissance and combat operations, Petra said.

Brig. Gen. Mohammad Thalji, the drill’s spokesperson, said that the drill simulates joint action and training on conventional and non-conventional operations, as well as procedures for command and control and cybersecurity.

In addition to Jordan, forces from 29 states including the US, Australia, Austria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Italy, Cyprus, Bahrain, Qatar, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Spain, the UAE, the UK, Tajikistan and Norway have taken part in the drill.

The 2019 Eager Lion drill, which was implemented by more than 8,000 land, marine and air forces, has been ongoing since August 25, with the aim of exchanging military expertise at all levels.