Confusion reigns over Jordan's role in IS ground fight

Confusion reigns over Jordan's role in IS ground fight
While Amman is saying in public that it will not commit ground troops to fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, events on the ground may force a change in plans.
2 min read
13 February, 2015
Jordan's border with Iraq has been tense for months [Getty]

Jordan has said that it will not enter a ground war in Iraq or Syria againt the Islamic State group. However, a well-placed source has told al-Araby al-Jadeed that that may change in the future.

The source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the government, said: "The ground campaign against IS still depends on the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga, but until a date is set for starting ground operations, the requirements of the military situation of these forces will be reconsidered, and a strategy will then be formulated based on the existing situation and an assessment of conditions on the ground."

     The ground campaign against IS still depends on the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga.


The suggestion that the decision to send in ground troops depends on the strategy of the anti-IS coalition  comes after Jordan's Senate president, Abd Al-Raouf al-Rawabdeh, said categorically on Wednesday: "Jordan will not enter a ground war."

A few hours later, the Jordanian Army Chief of Staff, Mashal al-Zaben, ended meetings in Baghdad and reiterated Rawabdeh's point: "The Jordanian army is doing all it can to help Iraqis by giving military training and equipping [their army]."

Jordan has increased its airstrikes on the Islamic State group in Syria after IS murdered Moaz al-Kassesbeh, a Jordanian pilot it was holding hostage.

There had been speculation that Jordan was to commit troops to aid Iraqi forces push the Islamic State from nothern Iraq, while the Syrian regime has recently told Jordan its troops were not welcome on its territory.

However, as reported in October, Jordan has agreed to help train Iraqi security forces. The training will take place in specialist centres in Jordan.

The Jordanian government's spokesman, Mohammad al-Momani, has stressed his country's commitment to continuing the war against IS.

"Jordan is part of the international coalition and is determined to get rid of terrorism," he told al-Araby. "We cooperate with our brothers and allies and consult them."

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.