Jordan's senior military leadership told Agence France Presse Wednesday that Amman is ready to defend the country against "any agression" in response to growing fears related to the country's shared border with Iraq.
"The Jordanian-Iraqi borders are safe. The Jordanian armed forces are capable of defending the kingdom from any aggression," border guard commander Brigadier Saber Mahayrah told reporters and AFP Wednesday.
"We will not allow anyone to cross illegally," he added, saying that armored Humvees and tanks, as well as four military helicopters, have been deployed to the area.
Jordan reinforced its border earlier this week in order to prevent "any kind of infiltration."
Amman's border reinforcement actions are largely in response to the growing presence of the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) in western Iraq. The jihadist group has led a militant offensive on Jordan's neighboring country and has managed to control nearly five provinces of Iraq, as well as several border crossings, in less than three weeks.
The Iraq-Jordan border houses only one official crossing at Trebil. Reports vary as to whom is in control of the crossing on the Iraqi side, with some suggesting ISIS was in control while others say it is in control of Sunni tribes, said the AFP report.
"The crossing post on the Iraqi side is run by Iraqi government officials. It is working normally," said an Iraqi driver as several trucks crossed into Jordan.o
Jordan has long dealt with the jihadist threat, with many of its own citizens joining ISIS and al-Qaeda linked groups in Iraq as well as in Syria.
