Special operations forces from Kuwait, Jordan, France, and the US performed a boarding drill at the Eager Lion military exercise in the coastal city of Aqaba in June. Muhammad Hamed/REUTERS Jordan's special forces team, grouped under Jordan's Joint Special Operations Command, is 14,000 strong and is one of the most effective fighting and intelligence forces in the region. Jordanian special forces frequently train alongside US forces.

Meanwhile, Jordan is a global center for special forces training operations. Jordan's King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) is the centerpiece of the country's Special Operations capabilities and is routinely used by other countries.

The facility, which includes training like simulated airline hijackings and close-quarter fighting in addition to K9 integration exercises, also hosts the annual Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference.

This focus reflects ruler King Abdullah II's past assignment within the nation's special forces and his certification as a Cobra pilot. In 1996, with US help, Abdullah began the reorganization of the country's special forces into a more modern force.