Eager Lion Drill 2026 Preliminary Planning Conference opened on Sunday at the Sheraton Hotel in Amman, with the attendance of a number of officers from the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF)-Arab Army, as well as Commanders and civil officials from participating Arab and friendly countries.

Talking at the event, Head of the Joint Training Division said the multinational exercise is an opportunity for all troops to build “strong ties and share experiences to enhance joint cooperation among all participating countries.”

The Head also urged all attendees to communicate to think “creatively and ensure flexible planning to achieve the exercise’s goals”.

The five-day conference aims to discuss issues related to the participating forces, in terms of size and type, and orchestrate operational concepts, which contributes to raising the level of JAF’s combat readiness and other personnel from Arab and friendly countries.

The event also aims to identify appropriate training locations, determine the required logistical support, and set the agenda for the main planning conference, Petra news agency reported.

The drill will be implemented in Jordan during the period from May 3-14, 2026, in its 12th edition since its launch in 2011.

The last edition of Eager Lion was also hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 2024 with the participation of 33 nations.

Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (File Photo: Eager Lion 2024 © U.S. Army)