Eager Lion 2015 concludes with joint drill

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), HRH Prince Feisal on Monday attended a tactical exercise in the Shediyeh area implemented by participating units in the 2015 Eager Lion drill.

Prince Feisal listened to a presentation by the head of the training commission and director of the exercise, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Jaradat, in which he said the exercise aimed at meeting the operational requirements of participating armies to respond to changes in the doctrines of modern, untraditional war.

Jaradat, in the presence of senior officers of participating countries, added that the drill was also aimed at testing the abilities and preparedness of JAF’s land, air and marine forces and enhancing operational cooperation with friendly countries. 

He noted that the past two weeks witnessed many activities and events in various specialised training areas to unify the planning concepts at the strategic, tactical and operational levels. 

US Major General Rick B. Mattson, who is in charge of exercises and training at the US Central Command, said that the Eager Lion drill is a precious opportunity to discuss military issues that concern all participating armies. 

The armies of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Lebanon, Iraq, the UK, France, Italy, Pakistan, the US, Canada, Belgium, Poland and Australia, in addition to Jordan and representatives of NATO have taken part in this year's event, which started May 5.

Chairman of the Joint Chief-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben and Gen. Lloyd Austin, head of the US Central Command, also attended the exercise.