US delivers 8 Black Hawks to Jordan for its anti-IS battle

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The United States gave Jordan eight refurbished helicopters today for the battle against Islamic State extremists along the kingdom's borders.

Pro-Western Jordan is part of a U.S.-led military coalition against IS, which controls large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq.

The kingdom also faces internal threats from IS sympathizers. Earlier this week, Jordanian troops killed seven suspected IS-linked militants in a raid in the north of the country. The suspects had allegedly plotted attacks in Jordan.

Alice Wells, the U.S. ambassador to Jordan, said in a handover ceremony today that the delivery of the Black Hawks is part of ongoing military support for Jordan that also includes additional guns and surveillance equipment.

Wells told her hosts at Marka military airport in the capital of Amman that "as you employ these aircraft in the fight against Da'esh, please know that we are honored to partner with you." Da'esh is an alternative Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

The ambassador said the helicopters will also help secure Jordan's borders, which are currently being monitored with a U.S.-built electronic detection system.