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Jordan will not be launch pad for Syria war, official says

28 August 2013 03:35 (UTC +04:00)

"Jordan's position has not changed. Jordanian territories will not be used as a launch pad for any military action against Damascus," the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Tuesday.

The official's remarks came at the end of a meeting of top military officers of Jordan, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada in the Jordanian capital Amman to discuss the regional impact of the war against Syria.

"The outcome of this meeting on developments in Syria is not expected to be announced to the media because of the nature of the meeting," the official said.

The West is moving closer to a military offensive against Syria.

In the last few days, US officials have repeatedly referred to “surgical strikes” on Syrian military installations while discussing US military options for Syria.

The call for military action against Syria intensified after foreign-backed opposition forces accused the government of President Bashar al-Assad of launching a chemical attack on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus last week.

But the Syrian Army strongly rejected any role in the alleged chemical attack, saying the accusations were fabricated to distract a visiting team of the UN chemical weapons experts and to cover up militants' losses.

During a news conference on Tuesday in Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem challenged the US and its allies to present evidence that the government had used chemical weapons.

"We are hearing war drums around us. If they want to launch an attack against Syria, I think using the excuse of chemical weapons is not true at all. I challenge them to show what proof they have,” Muallem said.

He also stated that any military action against Syria would serve the interests of Israel and al-Qaeda-linked militants fighting against the Syrian government.

"The war effort led by the United States and their allies will serve the interests of Israel and secondly al-Nusra Front," the Syrian foreign minister noted.