Jordan is digging trenches and raising dirt barriers on its northern and eastern borders with war-ravaged Iraq and Syria to stop fighters from nearby jihadist groups infiltrating into its territory, a top Jordanian general said Tuesday.
The embankments are intended to prevent the entry of Islamic State fighters. Some barriers have already been erected, border guards commander Saber al-Mahayra told government-owned Jordanian daily Al Ra’i.
The measure is part of Amman’s multi-pronged approach to combating the ruthless terror group, which seized a downed Jordanian fighter pilot and burned him to death in a cage in January. At the time, King Abdullah II pledged to step up the fight against IS, which released a gruesome video of the killing that shocked Jordanians.
Abdullah said Jordan’s response “will be harsh because this terrorist organization is not only fighting us, but also fighting Islam and its pure values.” Soon after the king made his remarks, Jordanian warplanes launched dozens of strikes against Islamic State positions.
Jordan shares a porous 350-kilometer border with Syria and a 175-kilometer border with Iraq — both situated in largely arid, desert terrain.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the
terms
Judah Ari Gross contributed to this report.
It's not (only) about you.
Supporting The Times of Israel isn’t a transaction for an online service, like subscribing to Netflix. The ToI Community is for people like you who care about a common good: ensuring that balanced, responsible coverage of Israel continues to be available to millions across the world, for free.
Sure, we'll remove all ads from your page and you'll gain access to some amazing Community-only content. But your support gives you something more profound than that: the pride of joining something that really matters.
Join the Times of Israel Community
Join our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
comments