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IS threat prompts effort to boost Middle East arms deliveries

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., wants to step up military aid to Jordan.
A Jordanian soldier stands guard in his tank as Jordanian army vehicles carrying Syrian refugees drive towards it at the Jordan-Syrian border near Mafraq February 18, 2013. According to the Jordanian Armed Forces sources, around 89,000 Syrian refugees fleeing from the violence in their country have crossed the Jordanian border since the beginning of 2013. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - RTR3DYZ6

A key House member wants to make it easier to send weapons to US ally Jordan as part of the stepped-up effort to combat the Islamic State (IS). 

The chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs panel on the Middle East will shortly be introducing legislation to increase military aid while easing roadblocks to arms sales to the Hashemite Kingdom, Al-Monitor has learned. Despite being introduced at the tail end of the legislative session, the bill from Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., is seen as having a real chance of passing in December as an amendment to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act.

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