Over 550 Defense Ministers, Chief of Staffs and Military Dignitaries from 82 countries attended the launch of the Armed Forces and Security Conference in Amman yesterday.

The conference, which opened at Le Royal Hotel, is followed by an exhibition that will run until May 13 at the King Abdullah I Airbase in Marka, where approximately 350 local, regional and international exhibitors will be displaying the latest equipment and technology used by special operations forces.

SOFEX 2010 includes a series of comprehensive and topical seminars delivered by top military officials from around the world, tackling a wide range of issues pertinent to current counter terrorism and homeland security issues.

"For over 14 years our country has been proud to host these gatherings, bringing together official high level delegations from all around the world to exchange experiences and ideas, and taking a united stand against terror in order to provide security and a future that all communities around the world desire," said Lt General Mashal Al Zaben, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff, representing King Abdullah II.

"By working together we will bring peace and security to the world, but we must also keep in mind that although special operations forces are vital to fighting terror, they are not the only weapon - we must understand what drives terror and root it out," he added.

The objective of the conference is to enhance the capabilities of special operations forces around the world to network for global security and combat global terrorism.

The conference provided a platform for dialogue, sharing strategies and experiences where senior government decision-makers and security analysts discussed a wide range of issues pertinent to global defense, homeland security and Special Operations.