AMMAN: Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and senior government and military officials held meetings on Tuesday with French Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces and Veterans Alice Rufo to discuss defense cooperation and regional developments.
During their meeting at Al-Husseiniya Palace, the crown prince and Rufo discussed ways to strengthen defense cooperation between Jordan and France, and reviewed the latest regional developments, according to state news agency Petra.
The crown prince warned of the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank, calling for greater international efforts to halt the escalation, and highlighted the need to achieve comprehensive calm across the region.
Rufo also held separate talks with Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister; and Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.
During his meeting with Rufo, Huneiti discussed expanding military cooperation between the Jordanian and French armed forces amid regional tensions, and reviewed issues of mutual interest aimed at strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries, Petra reported.
Safadi and the French minister also discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional developments.
The talks came as Jordan bolsters its air defenses amid increased Iranian hostilities.
On Tuesday, the Jordanian Armed Forces announced that they had intercepted 95 strikes launched from Iran over 16 days between July 9 and July 25, including 70 ballistic missiles and 25 drones.
The military said all projectiles were intercepted over unpopulated areas, and included 13 missiles and drones brought down on July 24 alone, following several days of repeated aerial threats.
Jordan has repeatedly intercepted missiles and drones crossing its airspace during regional conflicts, saying it will not allow its territory or civilians to become a battlefield amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
