Jordanian, U.S. military drill tackles chemical attack scenarios

The chemical attack response training comes weeks after a suspected poison gas attack in Syria that sparked a US-led retaliatory strike.

By REUTERS
Updated: APRIL 28, 2018 07:25
Jordan, US military target 'irregular warfare' at joint training exercise, April 26, 2018 (Reuters)
Jordanian and US military personnel marked the final day of the annual Eager Lion military exercise on Thursday, which focused on irregular warfare and promoted military relationships.
The annual exercise kicked off in Jordan on April 14 and focuses on irregular warfare, terrorism and national security threats.
Military personnel from the United States and Jordan underwent a chemical, biological and nuclear attack response training at a center in the Jordanian town of Zarqa, north of the capital Amman on Sunday.
US, British and French forces pound Syria with air strikes early on Saturday in response to a poison gas attack, April 14, 2018(Reuters)
The chemical attack response training comes weeks after a suspected poison gas attack in Syria that sparked a US-led retaliatory strike.
Western countries say scores of civilians sheltering from bombs were gassed to death in Douma on April 7. Syria and its ally Russia deny that any chemical attack took place.
Major Ahmed Alamawi, who was in charge of Sunday's drill, explained that the training session was tailored towards surveying, sampling and decontaminating personnel.
The final event, which took place in the town of Shuweir, 60 kilometres northeast of the capital Amman, focused on border control and minefield clearing drills.
This year's exercise was the first to include a scenario responding to an attack by weapons of mass destruction, according to Exercises and Training Director at US Central Command, Major General Jon Mott.
"We have also incorporated... the biolab for any type of weapon of mass destruction, this one was a chemical type attack this year," he said.
The chemical attack response training took place weeks after a suspected poison gas attack in Syria that sparked a US-led retaliatory strike.
Western countries say scores of civilians sheltering from bombs were gassed to death in Douma on April 7. Syria and its ally Russia deny that any chemical attack took place.
More than 7,000 army personnel from Jordan and the US took part in the 8th round of the Eager Lion exercise.


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