JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian forces have joined a US-Egyptian Bright Star exercise along with military units from Greece, Britain, Jordan, the UAE, Italy and France.
Observers from 16 other countries will monitor the exercise in Egypt, which is designed to strengthen military and security cooperation among the participating countries.
Col. Nasser bin Hatlin Al-Suhaimi, commanding officer of the Saudi force, said Saudi armed forces followed a pre-training curriculum to prepare for the joint exercise.
Al-Suhaimi said preparation for the Bright Star exercise included “integrated scenarios to unify the military concepts.”
Exercises included anti-terrorism operations, and fighting techniques on land and sea. Live ammunition was used in some drills.
Paratroopers and special security forces units have been assigned to carry out a number of major operational duties, including fighting in built-up areas, combating terrorism, piracy and air landings.
Saudi force comes out fighting in joint ‘Bright Star’ drill
Saudi force comes out fighting in joint ‘Bright Star’ drill
Crown prince speaks with regional leaders about Iranian aggression
- Calls came as several Gulf Arab states were targeted by Iranian missiles
RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to several regional leaders on the phone on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The calls came as several Gulf Arab states were targeted by Iranian missiles after Tehran pledged to retaliate against strikes by the US and Israel that hit several cities in Iran in the early hours of Saturday.
The crown prince spoke with UAE president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The crown prince affirmed the Kingdom’s full solidarity with, and support for, their nations and stressed “Saudi Arabia’s readiness to mobilize all its resources to assist them in responding to the brutal Iranian attacks they suffered, which undermine the region’s security and stability,” the SPA added.
