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Morocco Prepares for ‘African Lion 2023’ Military Drill

The planning meeting of the African Lion 2023 (MAP)
The planning meeting of the African Lion 2023 (MAP)
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Morocco Prepares for ‘African Lion 2023’ Military Drill

The planning meeting of the African Lion 2023 (MAP)
The planning meeting of the African Lion 2023 (MAP)

Morocco announced Monday that the African Lion 2023 military exercise would be held between May 22 and June 16.

The announcement came during the planning meeting of the African Lion 2023 at the level of the South Zone Headquarters in Agadir, held between January 9 and 20, according to the General Staff of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.

The meeting included members of the Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the representatives of the Moroccan and US armed forces.

The statement indicated they discussed the execution of various activities planned within the framework of the African Lion drills and chose the sites for the exercises.

The drills will include training in several operational areas and a planning exercise for staff executives, joint and combined maneuvers including land, airborne, maritime, special forces, air, civil-military action, and nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical decontamination, the statement said.

The US and Moroccan planners agreed on the modalities of the joint show between the FAR and the 23rd Utah State Army Band, which will be held on the sidelines of the operational activities of the African Lion 23.

The show is part of the activities planned on the 20th anniversary of the bilateral cooperation between the FAR and the Utah State National Guard.

African Lion 23 will take place from May 22 to June 16, 2023, in Agadir, Tantan, Al-Mahbes, Tiznit, Kenitra, Ben Guerir, and Tifnit.

African Lion is the most important multinational exercise on the African continent. It has been organized in Morocco over the past two decades, reflecting the strong cooperation between Morocco and the United States as a privileged strategic partner of the Kingdom.

The statement concluded that the participation of several countries, especially African ones, in this annual event establishes Morocco as a credible partner, open and committed to its origins and the ideals of the international community, namely peace, security, and co-development.

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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Wednesday that Türkiye had the power and ability to "crush" all terrorists in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militants, while urging all countries to "take their hands off" Syria.

Since last month's fall of Bashar al-Assad, Türkiye has said repeatedly it was time for the Kurdish YPG militia to disband. Ankara considers the group, which spearheads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization.

Ankara has said the new Syrian administration must be given an opportunity to address the YPG presence, but also threatened to mount a new cross-border operation against the militia based in northeast Syria if its demands are not met.

Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said the YPG was the biggest problem in Syria now, and added that the group would not be able to escape its inevitable end unless it lays down its arms.

"Regarding fabricated excuses like ISIS, these have no convincing side anymore," Erdogan said, referring to the US position that the YPG was a key partner against ISIS in Syria and that it plays a vital role guarding prison camps where the extremist militants are kept.

"If there is really a fear of the ISIS threat in Syria and the region, the biggest power that has the will and power to resolve this issue is Türkiye," he said.

"Everyone should take their hands off Syria and we, along with our Syrian siblings, will crush the heads of ISIS, the YPG and other terrorist organizations in a short time."

Türkiye has repeatedly asked its NATO ally the United States to halt support for the SDF, and has said the new administration in Syria had offered to take over the management of the prisons.