His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), on Tuesday attended a tactical exercise conducted by Royal Guard personnel and the King Hussein bin Ali Brigade.

King Abdullah was received by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Major General Yousef Hneiti and Royal Guard Commander Colonel Hamad Jaafreh, Petra news agency reported.

According to a Royal Hashemite Court (RHC) statement, the King was briefed on the exercise’s scenario, which simulated urban combat and protection for civilians, and included sniper fire from helicopters, as well as the use of F-16 fighter jets.

The King expressed pride in the advanced skills, capabilities, and readiness displayed during the exercise, praising the professionalism and high morale of the participants and all JAF personnel.

Meanwhile, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Michael Kurilla said Jordan is a reliable strategic partner and a bulwark for regional peace and stability.

In an interview with Petra on Monday, Kurilla highlighted the strategic importance of the Jordanian Armed Forces- Arab Army (JAF), which was made clear during the battle against ISIS terror group.

Asked about Jordan’s contributions to regional peace and stability, he said the Kingdom, under His Majesty King Abdullah's leadership, leads the way for security and stability in the region and that JAF is among CENTCOM’s strongest, most committed and most reliable partners.

In a meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Major General Yousef Huneiti, Kurilla said: “Ours is a relationship built on trust. This is a benefit to the region.”

He commended JAF for its professionalism, competency, discipline and tactical proficiency.

On Jordan-US military cooperation, the US Commander said that the “ongoing military-to-military partnership with the JAF is paramount to defending our mutual interests, providing a golden opportunity to strengthen relationships and trust between nations. We train, fight, and collaborate on all fronts.”

He further underlined the significant role of the Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX), hosted by the Kingdom three weeks ago, in strengthening the partnership between Jordan-US special operations forces and offering another opportunity to engage with our partners to advance regional security.