Israel-Hamas war: Jordan asks the U.S. to deploy Patriot air defense systems during conflict

Hundreds of people holding Palestinian flags and banners, gather to stage a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Amman, Jordan on October 28,2023. (Photo by Laith Al-jnaidi/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Jordan, a Middle Eastern country that is allied with the United States and has had peaceful relations with its neighbor Israel since 1994, has asked the American government to deploy Patriot air defense systems amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The request comes as the country is threatened with regional conflict as a result of Hamas' terrorists' attack on Israel on October 7. The country's leaders worry that Israel's airstrikes in Gaza could threaten the entire Levant.

"We asked the American side to help bolster our defense system with Patriot air defense missile systems," Jordanian military spokesperson Brigadier General Mustafa Hiyari confirmed.

The U.S. stationed Patriot missiles in Jordan in 2013 when unrest in Syria - Jordan's northern neighbor - became a concern for the kingdom. The Patriot, a sophisticated air defense system, is highly sought-after by American allies.