Wary of retaliation, Jordan nixes Syria strike from its soil

AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan will not be used as a launching pad for attacks on Syria and the kingdom favors a diplomatic solution to the crisis, a Jordanian government spokesman said Wednesday.

A US-led strike on Syria in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by President Bashar Assad’s regime would likely involve cruise missile attacks from the sea, which would not need to cross or make use of Jordanian territory.

But the remarks underline the pro-US kingdom’s efforts to avoid further friction with its larger neighbor for fear that Assad or his Iranian backers could retaliate.

They come a day after Jordan hosted a meeting of top commanders from Western and Middle Eastern countries, including some that are likely to participate in a military action.

“Jordan will not be a launching pad for any military action against Syria,” said spokesman Mohammad Momani, who is also information minister.

He said Jordan prefers a “diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis” and called on the international community to “consolidate efforts in that regard.”

The day before, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Arab and Western peers to discuss ways to bolster the security of Syria’s neighbors against possible attacks, chemical or other, by Assad’s regime, a Jordanian security official said. Army chiefs of staff from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Canada also attended.

Syrian state radio, quoting an unnamed political commentator, accused Jordan in news bulletins Tuesday of participating in a US-led “aggression” for hosting the meeting.

Similar meetings took place earlier this year in Britain and Qatar. The Jordanian official said more meetings were planned in the near future. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to make press statements.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.