STORY: Jordan stages multinational military drill
SHOOTING TIME: May 12, 2024
DATELINE: May 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:02
LOCATION: Amman
CATEGORY: MILITARY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the press conference
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOSTAFA AL-HIYARI, Director of Military Media at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HERBERT LEE BREARD, Chief of the Exercises Division at the U.S. Central Command

STORYLINE:

The Jordanian Armed Forces' annual Eager Lion military drills began Sunday with participation of ground, naval, and air forces from 33 countries including the United States and 10 other Arab countries. The exercise runs until May 23.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOSTAFA AL-HIYARI, Director of Military Media at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army
"The Eager Lion exercise is one of the most significant military drills conducted in the Middle East region, involving participation from ground, air, and naval forces at the level of the armed forces of the participating countries. Additionally, numerous governmental and non-governmental institutions, ministries, security agencies, and humanitarian organizations at the national level are also involved. Internationally, 33 countries are taking part, including Jordan and the United States, which contributes greatly to the exercise by adding a rich diversity of experiences and a wide array of methodologies that participants can gain from."

Mostafa Al-Hiyari, director of Military Media for the Jordanian Armed Forces, said at a press conference that the exercise aims for strategic, operational, and training objectives and seeks a common understanding among the participating countries about threats that transcend borders, such as terrorist organizations and the proliferation of destructive weapons.

Al-Hiyari added that the drills involve logistics, planning, targeting, and strategizing for ground, sea, and air combat operations. Other activities focus on responding to natural disasters and pandemics.

The military official stressed that the exercise will take place across the kingdom and has no ties to any current developments in the region.

Herbert Lee Breard, Exercises Division Chief at the U.S. Central Command, said that this year's Eager Lion drill is "new and different." Breard highlighted its focus on people, partnerships, innovation, and humanitarian aid after natural disasters.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HERBERT LEE BREARD, Exercises Division Chief at the U.S. Central Command
"At this 11th iteration of Eager Lion, new and different this year. As my esteemed colleague to the right said, I think the focus on the peoples, the partners and the innovation frames what we're going to accomplish this year. The addition of focus of humanitarian aid as we've looked at earthquakes and floods in the region over the past couple years, I think that is a great focus area to grow upon. There's a number of other areas, but I think if I was to pick one to focus on overall, it would be partnerships, and how we continue to build a coalition that will work together in time of need."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Amman.
(XHTV)