World

In 18-nation military exercise in Jordan, troops practice retaking border seized by militants

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A Jordanian tank advances during 18-nation military exercises in a field near the border with Saudi Arabia, in Mudawara, 280 kilometers (174 miles) south of Amman, Jordan, Monday, May 18, 2015. Some 10,000 troops took part in the two-week "Eager Lion" exercises hosted by Jordan for the fifth year. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) (The Associated Press)

Rockets are fired during 18-nation military exercises in a field near the border with Saudi Arabia, in Mudawara, 280 kilometers (174 miles) south of Amman, Jordan, Monday, May 18, 2015. Some 10,000 troops took part in the two-week "Eager Lion" exercises hosted by Jordan for the fifth year. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) (The Associated Press)

Jordanian forces practice a drill to free a ship seized by mock terrorists during 18-nation military exercises off Aqaba's seaport, 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of Amman, Jordan, Monday, May 18, 2015. Some 10,000 troops took part in the two-week "Eager Lion" exercises hosted by Jordan for the fifth year. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) (The Associated Press)

Troops participating in an 18-nation drill have staged mock exercises, including recapturing an international border and a ship seized by militants.

Some 10,000 troops are taking part in the two-week "Eager Lion" exercise hosted by Jordan for the fifth year. Many are from countries that have joined a U.S.-led military coalition against Islamic State extremists. The group has captured large areas of Syria and Iraq, and seized the Iraqi city of Ramadi over the weekend.

Maj. Gen. Rick B. Mattson, head of training in the U.S. military, said Monday the military drill "shows there is a common interest among all 18 nations for regional stability and this is why we are here."

In a live-fire drill on retaking a border, a B-52 bomber attacked mock targets.