US-Arab exercise drills Iran landing. Syrian rebels obtain German machine guns
Debka.com
May 28, 2012
The US-Arab Eager Lion 2012 exercise ends Wednesday, May 30, after 12,000 mostly American as well as Saudi, Jordanian, Qatari and UAE special forces troops staged three weeks of joint maneuvers in Jordan.
In the marine section, DEBKAfile’s military sources report, around 3,000 US, Jordanian and Saudi special forces troops of three battalions practiced landings on Jordanian beaches and the rapid seizure of fortified mountain bases and command posts on Jordanian terrain resembling the three islands commanding the Strait of Hormuz where the Revolutionary Guards have established marine bases and other parts of Iran.
The mountains behind Aqaba port soar to 6,000 ft.
Taking part were the US 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Maritime Raid Force, the 24th Maritime Expeditionary Unit, the Jordanian 77th Reconnaissance Battalion and Saudi special marine forces aboard landing craft.
Their command post was set up aboard the new USS New York amphibious transport dock, which was sent to the Red Sea to boost American strength in the region with 700 marines aboard, landing craft and helicopters for dropping troops opposite land targets.
The command vessel and the exercise were clearly visible to observers from the neighboring Israeli port and resort town of Eilat.
In the ground section of Eager Lion 2012, large scale US and Arab special forces carried out practice operations backed by air and armored strength including assault helicopters in northern Jordan near the Syrian border.
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