Syria crisis could spill over into Jordan, Syrian deputy FM warns

Faisal al-Meqdad said in a recent interview with China’s Xinhua news agency that Jordanian authorities must beware that “fire would move on from Syria to gut their houses and offices.”
 
    “Menacing danger is threatening the two countries (Syria and Jordan) and the entire region, as well as all those who are supporting armed terrorist groups,” the Syrian deputy foreign minister stated.
 
 
“We and our brothers in the Jordanian government know very well that a lot of those (terrorist) agents have entered Syria… Wasn’t that done with the knowledge of the Jordanian government?” Meqdad asked.
 
The Syrian official made the comments after President Bashar al-Assad on April 17 criticized Jordan for allowing thousands of foreign-sponsored militants to enter Syria through its borders.
 
On the same day, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the United States was deploying 200 troops to Jordan for military operations along the Syrian border.
 
The Los Angeles Times later reported that the Pentagon “has made plans to expand the force to 20,000 or more if necessary” for a potential intervention in Syria.
 
Meqdad also called on the international community to find a peaceful solution to end the deadly violence that broke out in Syria in March 2011.
 
“We are open and welcome any effort that might be exerted in this field within the framework of the international legitimacy and non-interference in the country’s internal affairs,” the Syrian official stated.
 
He also slammed the European Union for a recent decision to ease its oil embargo on Syria in an attempt to shore up the militants.
 
“This is another expression of the blatant intervention by Western countries against the sovereignty of an independent state and a direct cooperation with terrorists and gunmen,” Meqdad said.