Estimation and outlook on the situation in Syria and the region

protest against king abdullah of jordanOpposition groups protest in Jordan on October 5, 2012. (Al-Jazeera)

Estimation and outlook on the situation in Syria and the region – Part 4

JordanĀ“s strains
Jordan
feels the strains of the Syrian situation as well. Throughout its history, the kingdom did steadily and carefully adjust to changing situations, constantly balancing pressure from bigger Arab countries and the West.

Though the kingdom gave Syrian opposition fighters training ground on limited scales, it did resist demands from Qatar and Saudi Arabia to heavily arm the Syrian opposition.

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Report: Saudis buying Balkan arms for Syrian rebels

Report: Saudis buying Balkan arms for Syrian rebels (AFP/Daily Star)

Background: Weapons trade between the Balkans and the Middle East is established since long. After the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990) large contingents were sold to former Yugoslavia.

Lebanese Forces (LF) tanks and armoured personnel carriers displaying the party’s cross could be seen on CNN during the time of the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s.