Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Greece Conduct Joint Military Drill to Confront Terrorist Elements

The four-way joint exercise “Hercules-21” (Egyptian military spokesperson)
The four-way joint exercise “Hercules-21” (Egyptian military spokesperson)
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Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Greece Conduct Joint Military Drill to Confront Terrorist Elements

The four-way joint exercise “Hercules-21” (Egyptian military spokesperson)
The four-way joint exercise “Hercules-21” (Egyptian military spokesperson)

Special forces from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Greece have conducted a four-way joint military exercise.

Dubbed ‘Hercules-21,’ the four-day drill was held for the first time at the Special Forces Training Center in Peramos, Greece, and it aimed at confronting terrorist elements and exchanging expertise.

The military exercise includes lectures on countering terrorism, training on managing joint combat operations among the participating elements, training on fighting in closed and open spaces, hostage rescue and medical evacuation.

Forces were also trained to carry out airdrops and sea landings from the thunderbolt and parachutes as well as raids.

The drill comes in line with the joint training plan implemented by the Egyptian armed forces with brotherly and friendly countries to exchange expertise and refine the skills of the participating elements, a statement by the Egyptian military spokesperson read.

These exercises contribute to achieving higher rates of efficiency and combat readiness, the statement added.

Commanders of the armed forces of the countries participating in the training attended the drill.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.