World

Jordan, at center of fight against Islamic militants, hosts competition of anti-terror squads

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Jordanian forces conduct a military drill as part of the 7th Annual International Warrior Competition hosted by the King Abduallh Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC), Sunday, April 19, 2015, Amman, Jordan. Jordan is hosting a competition of elite anti-terrorism squads from 18 countries, including fellow members of the military coalitions fighting rebels in Yemen and Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria. The competition opened Sunday with a drill by Jordanian special forces rescuing hostages from a plane and rappelling from a helicopter. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) (The Associated Press)

Jordanian forces conduct a military drill as part of the 7th Annual International Warrior Competition hosted by the King Abduallh Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC), Sunday, April 19, 2015, Amman, Jordan. Jordan is hosting a competition of elite anti-terrorism squads from 18 countries, including fellow members of the military coalitions fighting rebels in Yemen and Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria. The competition opened Sunday with a drill by Jordanian special forces rescuing hostages from a plane and rappelling from a helicopter. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) (The Associated Press)

Jordanian forces conduct a military drill as part of the 7th Annual International Warrior Competition hosted by the King Abduallh Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC), Sunday, April 19, 2015, Amman, Jordan. Jordan is hosting a competition of elite anti-terrorism squads from 18 countries, including fellow members of the military coalitions fighting rebels in Yemen and Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria. The competition opened Sunday with a drill by Jordanian special forces rescuing hostages from a plane and rappelling from a helicopter. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) (The Associated Press)

Jordan is hosting a competition of elite anti-terrorism squads from 18 countries, including fellow members of the military coalitions fighting rebels in Yemen and Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria.

Spokesman Col. Khaled Abu Hamad says the 7th Annual Warrior Competition offers a chance for team leaders to "meet and to know each other, as the terrorists have become international."

The competition opened Sunday with a drill by Jordanian special forces rescuing hostages from a plane and rappelling from a helicopter. Teams compete in 10 events. China won the 2014 competition.

Among those participating are the U.S., Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.

Jordan is a member of a U.S.-led military coalition against Islamic State militants. It also supports a Saudi-led campaign against rebels in Yemen.