Jordan to deploy Patriots to protect Israel from Syrian attack, says Le Figaro

Jordan is to deploy four Patriot missile batteries to protect itself — and Israel — from possible air attack by Syria, the French newspaper Le Figaro reported on Thursday.

Quoting a European military expert, it said the the missile defense systems would be supplied by Germany, with US support. The US originally sold the systems to Germany 20 years ago.

The paper said Israel also privately supported the move.

The Patriots would be capable of intercepting Scud missiles fired by Syria en route to Israel, the expert reportedly said.

The paper noted that a cousin of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s, businessman Rami Makhlouf, had warned last May that Syria’s ongoing conflict would spread beyond its borders, to Israel, if the regime in Damascus felt threatened. “If there is no stability here, there will be none in Israel,” Makhlouf said.