Saudi Arabia, Egypt Continue Joint ‘Tabuk-5’ Military Drill

Part of the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) and the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) Tabuk-5 drills (Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman)
Part of the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) and the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) Tabuk-5 drills (Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Continue Joint ‘Tabuk-5’ Military Drill

Part of the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) and the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) Tabuk-5 drills (Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman)
Part of the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) and the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) Tabuk-5 drills (Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman)

The Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) and the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) continued to carry out the Tabuk-5 military drill on Tuesday in the Kingdom’s northwestern region.

The “Tabuk-5” exercise is part of a series of joint exercises co-implemented by RSLF and EAF to enhance military cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The drills aim to raise the efficiency of combat units, exchange information and military expertise, and enhance readiness to confront any potential threat.

Special forces units of both sides, infantry, armored personnel, and support elements of various specialized divisions are taking part in the training.

EAF spokesman said that preliminary stages of training have been completed in the past days, which included activities and many lectures, to unify training concepts, coordinate efforts, and achieve integration between the participating forces.

The Egyptian military spokesman pointed out that the excellence and the extent of the forces’ understanding and high field and combat skills were clear during the training.

The special forces of both countries also carried out intensive evacuation activities, and ambush training.

The parachute forces trained personnel dealing with emergencies, and skydiving, showing flexibility and high skill of the participating elements.

The drill contained many theoretical lectures to confront the fifth-generation wars, including a course on cyber security to address the best methods to detect threats and e-attacks.

"Tabuk-5″ aims to achieve the maximum possible benefit for the elements involved in planning, management, and implementation, as well as supporting cooperation between the Egyptian and Saudi armed forces.



EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
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EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war while on a visit to Lebanon on Sunday, as the group claimed attacks deep into Israel.  

The Israeli military said Iran-backed Hezbollah fired around 160 projectiles into Israel during the day. Some of them were intercepted but others caused damage to houses in central Israel, according to AFP images.  

A day after the health ministry said Israeli strikes on Beirut and across Lebanon killed 84 people, state media reported two strikes on Sunday on the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel's military said it had attacked "headquarters" of the group "hidden within civilian structures" in south Beirut.

War between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in late September, nearly a year after the group began launching strikes in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas following that group's October 7 attack on Israel.

The conflict has killed at least 3,754 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the health ministry, most of them since September.  

On the Israeli side, authorities say at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed.  

Earlier this week, US special envoy Amos Hochstein said in Lebanon that a truce deal was "within our grasp" and then headed to Israel for talks with officials there.  

In the Lebanese capital, Borrell held talks with parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, who has led mediation efforts on behalf of ally Hezbollah.

"We see only one possible way ahead: an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," Borrell said.  

"Lebanon is on the brink of collapse", he warned.  

Under Resolution 1701, which ended the last Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006, Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only armed forces present in the southern border area.  

The resolution also called for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon, and reiterated earlier calls for "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon."