Jordan's king says he's ready to fend off threats from Syria

AMMAN, Jordan – Jordan's king says his nation is prepared to fend off any threats from its larger Syrian neighbor.

Abdullah II says Jordan "will emerge victorious in the face of all challenges, the way we always have in the past" as he addressed cadets graduating from Jordan's largest military academy on Sunday.

He said should the worsening Syrian crisis "become a threat to our country, we are capable at any time to take the necessary measures to protect our country and people's interests."

Jordan is hosting multinational military exercises involving thousands of U.S. troops. The U.S. has also agreed to install Patriot missiles along Jordan's 233-mile border with Syria and is allowing a squadron of 12 to 24 F-16 fighter jets to remain with its key Arab ally after the exercises.