A senior Jordanian military official said the kingdom is closely monitoring the movements of extremist groups on its northern and north-eastern borders to deter any threat, with some 50% of the armed forces deployed in these areas, the Jordan Times reported Monday (January 16th).
Jordan is "effectively and actively" targeting the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) in areas near the border, Col. Majdi Harasis of the Military Intelligence Directorate said Monday during a discussion on preventing and combating terrorism in the MENA region and Europe.
Jordan has been vigilant since ISIL re-deployed to Syria's Badia region and to areas near the kingdom's border following operations against them in al-Raqa and Mosul, he said.
ISIL is "constantly trying to monitor the movements of our armed forces at the border, and we are effectively monitoring them within the range of our fire", he said.
The long borders with Syria have increased the pressure on Jordan's armed forces, he said, adding that the military has two defensive lines at the border to thwart any attacks and to provide a quick response.
