RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Naval Forces and the US Navy have completed a joint naval drill in the Red Sea, the Kingdom’s defense ministry said on Wednesday.
The 10-day Indigo Defender — 21, which involved the Kingdom’s Western Fleet, concluded on Tuesday in the presence of the exercise’s directors, Brig. Gen. Saad Al-Ahmari and Col. Carl Haywood from the US Navy.
Al-Ahmari said the maneuvers were designed to strengthen relations and military cooperation between the Saudi and US navies, enhance combat readiness, and to exchange expertise in the field of port protection and the clearing of land and sea mines.
“It also contributes to developing security capabilities by protecting and securing the seas and regional and international waterways to ensure freedom of maritime navigation in the Red Sea,” he added.
The exercise included a number of scenarios in which naval units, support boats, landing ships and helicopters carried out practical tasks and tactical maneuvers, during which the participants demonstrated the highest standards of readiness and great skill, Al-Ahmari said.
He added that this portrayed the RSNF in a way “that reflects the image of development and excellence of our armed forces internationally,” adding that this success reflected the support of the Saudi leadership.
Saudi and US navies conclude 10-day exercise in Red Sea
https://arab.news/nqk4v
Saudi and US navies conclude 10-day exercise in Red Sea
- The 10-day Indigo Defender — 21, which involved the Kingdom’s Western Fleet, concluded on Tuesday
- The drill is designed to strengthen relations and military cooperation between the Saudi and US navies
Saudi Cabinet condemns ‘blatant’ Iranian aggression; affirms Kingdom’s right to respond to threats
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has warned it reserves the “full right” to respond to Iranian aggression following a series of “blatant and cowardly” strikes targeting the capital and the Eastern Province.
The warning came during a late-night Cabinet session on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman via videoconference, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
During the session, the Cabinet “reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s full solidarity with the brotherly countries whose territories were subjected to blatant Iranian aggression”, signaling a united front against regional threats.
The session followed a dramatic escalation of hostilities, including a direct drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh.
Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that while air defenses intercepted multiple threats, the embassy compound sustained a “limited fire and minor material damage.”
General Al-Malki further announced that Saudi forces successfully intercepted and destroyed eight additional drones targeting the cities of Riyadh and Al-Kharj early Tuesday morning.
In a sharp rebuke of the embassy strike, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) cited a flagrant violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“The repetition of this flagrant Iranian behavior... will push the region toward further escalation,” the Ministry stated, underscoring that these provocations occurred despite Riyadh’s explicit policy of not allowing its airspace or territory to be used as a launchpad for strikes against Iran.
Global condemnation and solidarity
The Cabinet expressed deep appreciation for the wave of international support as world leaders condemned Tehran’s “indiscriminate” behavior.
In a joint show of force, the US and GCC member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) along with Jordan stood united, labeling the strikes a “dangerous escalation” and reaffirming a collective right to self-defense.
Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and India. — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi — voiced strong solidarity with the Kingdom. The UK government confirmed its forces are engaged in “defensive actions” to maintain regional stability.
Amid the heightened military tension, the Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom’s hospitality efforts for GCC citizens currently stranded at Saudi airports due to regional airspace closures. The crown prince reaffirmed that the state would mobilize all capabilities to support brotherly nations in any measures they take to restore regional peace and stability.
