RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - A Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry official denied reports that his country is massing forces along its northern border in comments to the official Saudi Press Agency.

The official, who was not further identified, was quoted as saying in the SPA report late Tuesday that the military is conducting routine training in the northwest region of the kingdom near the Jordanian border.

The exercises in the Tabuk region, about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) northeast of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, are part of continuing military training conducted throughout the country, the agency quoted the official saying.

On Tuesday, a Defense Ministry official told The Associated Press that the kingdom had sent eight brigades with a total of 8,000 men to its border with Jordan after receiving intelligence reports that Israel was massing troops along the Jordanian border.

An Israeli army spokesman said Tuesday that Israel had not increased its troops along the border with Jordan.
A 25-kilometer (15.5-mile) strip of Jordanian territory separates Israel from Saudi Arabia.