Hundreds of Jordanians Demand Withdrawal of 4,000 U.S. Troops as Iran Strikes Raise Conflict Fears
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 29
Hundreds of Jordanians Demand Withdrawal of 4,000 U.S. Troops as Iran Strikes Raise Conflict Fears
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 29
Summary
Hundreds of Jordanian political, legal and other figures signed an open letter last week urging U.S. forces to leave the kingdom, a rare public challenge in a country that has long curbed dissent.
The signatories said the U.S. troop presence threatens Jordanian sovereignty and exposes the country to security, political and economic risks by increasing the chance it is pulled into a regional war.
Iranian missiles and drones have increasingly targeted U.S. forces and installations in Jordan in recent weeks, including early Wednesday, repeatedly triggering sirens across the country.
Jordan hosts about 4,000 U.S. soldiers and serves as a hub for American military operations in the Middle East, making the troop issue more sensitive after the late-February U.S.-Israel war against Iran.