Israel gave Jordan 16 Cobra combat helicopters to defend its borders against ISIS threats, an unnamed U.S. official told Reuters exclusively.
The helicopters, originally supplied by the United States, were mechanically overhauled before they were given
to Jordan, the official told Reuters, and the U.S. approved the exchange.
"These choppers are for border security," the official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters, adding that some of the 16 may be used for spare parts.
The Pentagon, as well as officials from Jordan and Israel, would not comment, Reuters reported.
The Cobra helicopters were part of two squadrons that Israel disbanded, one in the mid-2000s and the other in 2013, Reuters reported, preferring to use Apache helicopters instead.
In 2014, the United States chose to stop a deal Israel had made with Nigeria to sell the country its decommissioned Cobra
helicopters, Haaretz reported.
At the time, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said there were "ongoing concerns about the Nigerian military’s protection of civilians when conducting military operations," Haaretz said. Subsequently, Israel apparently decided to give the helicopters to Jordan at no cost.
Jordan’s military frequently modernizes its military with surplus
aircraft, according to the Defense Update website, including F-16s that were acquired from European countries.
"Jordan itself hands over its aging aircraft to other countries," the website said. "In 2010, the Royal Jordanian Air Force transferred 16 of its older AH-1F gunships to Pakistan, under a US-sponsored support program that provided Islamabad with 40 refurbished helicopters."
In a part of the world that is rippling with disagreement, Israel’s decision to give helicopters to Jordan drew online comments:
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