A new round of joint military exercises has fueled considerable speculation among Jordanians that their government may be about to participate in a surprise US invasion of Syria. The speculation was growing to the point Syria issued a statement yesterday warning them against doing so.
Those familiar with the situation say it’s likely an idle rumor, however, with retired Gen. Mousa al-Odwan, a former special forces commander, saying he doesn’t believe the Jordanian government would offer direct military support in the event of any ground invasion of Syria.
Jordanian political analysts appeared to agree with this assessment, saying their nation’s military is in no position to get into a protracted involvement in a ground war in Syria, and that doing so would have “dire consequences” for the nation’s military and its stability.
While Jordan isn’t on good terms with Syria, their official stance is that the Syrian Civil War should be resolved peacefully. Jordan’s involvement in the war has been chiefly defensive operations along the border, as exemplified by the Jordanian Air Force shooting down an unidentified drone along the Syrian border. Their main priority is to keep the war spreading across the border, particularly ISIS infiltration.
A US invasion of Syria? Through Israel? Through Lebanon? Through Turkey? Through Iraq?
The Russians will not make the port of Latakia available. Hence the shortest route is through Tartus smack into government territory near Homs.
Russian and US navies less than 100 miles apart.
You have quite a valid point here, Dieter, and I agree 100%. The Jordanians won’t support US ground invasion of Syria. Why should they? They don’t want to be dragged into this war, which has been going on since 2011 (on Barack Obama’s watch), and I don’t blame them.
The Iraqi Gov’t. won’t allow US ground forces on its territory, either. Through Lebanon? Through Israel? Through Turkey? No way .. And the Russians won’t make the port of Latakia available. They won’t make their naval base at the Tartus port available. What? To make the overthrow of their protege Assad possible? Crazy! Just as you said.
I also agree with your statement that unless we start a real war with Russia there’ll be no ports on the Syrian coast available for landing and continued supply of the forces.
Invasion through Turkey? Laughable. Invasion through Lebanon: war crime without Congressional consent. Invasion through Israel and the Golan Heights: Good luck, Mr. President.
Even if Iraq did consent, the supply route will be long and risky. From what I’ve read in other sites recently, the Iraqi Gov’t doesn’t want US forces on its soil, either. I’m also a military amateur and can only shake my head in bewilderment when I look at this idea. Indeed, it looks much like invading Afghanistan which has no sea ports.
As the Germans found out with the invasion of the USSR, getting in can be easy but subsequent supplying can become a nightmare, not to mention the Russian winters.
I also wonder, does this POTUS realize what his Generals are brewing? He’d better take charge as Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and rein these rogue Generals in.