Royal Saudi Naval Forces Conclude 'Medusa 13' Exercise in Greece

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
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Royal Saudi Naval Forces Conclude 'Medusa 13' Exercise in Greece

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece.

Rear Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al-Juaid, Commander of the Western Fleet, attended the closing ceremony.

The drill, which included landing operations and live-fire exercises, was conducted on the Greek island of Crete, in the Mediterranean theater.

The Saudi naval forces participated with various units, such as Special Naval Security Units, Marine Infantry, and Naval Aviation. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

Colonel Naval Commander Fahd Al-Humaidi Al-Otaibi, at the helm of the exercise, said in a statement the exercise consisted of two phases, one theoretical, with lectures, and one entailing hands-on operational activities covering military and civil-military operations, information operations, amphibious assaults, civilian evacuations, and protection of freedom of navigation.

The Saudi naval forces participated with various units, such as Special Naval Security Units, Marine Infantry, and Naval Aviation, he added.

These units demonstrated high professionalism and readiness in the course of the exercise, achieving positive results that highlighted the importance of continuous training and development.

The drill, which included landing operations and live-fire exercises, was conducted on the Greek island of Crete, in the Mediterranean theater. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

The exercise met all its objectives, including fostering alliances and security cooperation to bolster maritime security, executing joint combat missions with modern weaponry, coordinating among units to address non-traditional maritime threats, and sharing expertise to secure the theater of operations against potential risks, stressed Al-Otaibi.



Oman, Qatar, Bahrain Condemn Israel's Targeting of Iran

An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel April 14, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel April 14, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
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Oman, Qatar, Bahrain Condemn Israel's Targeting of Iran

An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel April 14, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel April 14, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The Sultanate of Oman strongly condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory on Saturday.
The Sultanate said these attacks are a flagrant violation of Iran's sovereignty and a clear breach of international law, and expressed concern that such escalatory actions fuel the cycle of violence and undermine efforts to de-escalate tensions through peaceful and diplomatic means. It called on the international community to take decisive action to halt the aggression and end these violations.
In a statement, the Omani Foreign Ministry urged that the cause of regional crises be addressed, by ending the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories, and its ongoing aggression in Gaza Strip.
The Sultanate also emphasized the need to abide by UN Security Council resolutions, grant the Palestinian people their right to self-determination, and establish an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, within the framework of the two-state solution and in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative, to ensure a just and lasting peace for all parties concerned.

Qatar also strongly condemned Israel's targeting of Iran, deeming it a flagrant violation of Iran's sovereignty and a clear breach of the principles of international law.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing deep concern over the serious repercussions that may result from this escalation, and called on all concerned parties to exercise restraint, resolve differences through dialogue and peaceful means, and avoid anything that would destabilize security and stability in the region.
The ministry renewed Qatar's call on the international community to intensify efforts aimed at calming and de-escalating the situation, and ending the suffering of the peoples of the region, especially in Gaza and Lebanon.

For its part, Bahrain's foreign ministry condemned military action against Iran, urging an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and reduce regional tensions. 

The ministry urged all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize de-escalation to prevent the expansion of conflict and war. It also emphasized the need to revive peace negotiations to achieve regional security and stability, and ensure that all peoples in the region live in dignity, safety, peace, and prosperity.