Saudi-US Military Exercise Aims to Boost Control, Command Operations

Saudi- US military exercise in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi- US military exercise in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi-US Military Exercise Aims to Boost Control, Command Operations

Saudi- US military exercise in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi- US military exercise in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The fourth edition of a joint military exercise between Saudi Royal Land Forces and the US Army, dubbed “Friendship Military Exercises 2018,” was launched on Monday in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.

The maneuvers will continue for several weeks, aiming at strengthening mutual bilateral military relations, enhancing coordination and joint cooperation, unifying planning procedures and developing command and control operations in the battlefield under different war conditions and conventional and non-conventional warfare methods.

Assistant Commander of the Northern Region Major General Saleh al-Zahrani said that the exercise is considered one of the most important exercises and the command of the land forces is keen on carrying it out annually and regularly.

The exercise’s activities have proved the readiness of the Saudi forces taking part in the drills and “to carry out the exercise activities as planned.”

For his part, Brigadier General Hamdan al-Shammari explained that the exercise is an extension of previous exercises through which training on a number of military operations to unify command and control and exchange of experience have taken place, both in traditional and non-conventional warfare, for the interest of the armed forces at all levels.

"This exercise is of great importance and contributes to the professionalism of joint operations and unified planning between the two sides to develop command and control operations in the battlefield and combat training in regular and irregular warfare situations using the joint weapons system," said Fares al-Mutairi, Director of the Friendship Exercise.

Commander of the US Tank Battalion Lt. Col. Christopher Howell said that the friendship exercise contributes to a partnership between the armed forces of the two countries to build and strengthen mutual military relations.

“The exercise is very important, and it is a great honor to be invited to Saudi Arabia,” he said.



UAE President Tells Rubio Rejects Displacement of Palestinians

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)
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UAE President Tells Rubio Rejects Displacement of Palestinians

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Center Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on February 19, 2025. (AFP)

United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday that Abu Dhabi rejected any displacement of Palestinians, official media said.

Sheikh Mohammed "affirmed the UAE's firm position rejecting any attempts aimed at displacing the Palestinian people from their land", the Gulf state's WAM news agency said following a US proposal to take over the war-battered Gaza Strip and move its inhabitants.

It added that the president "stressed the need for the reconstruction of Gaza to be linked to a path leading to comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution".

The Abu Dhabi meeting covered a range of regional and international issues of shared concern, with a focus on developments in the Middle East and the Palestinian Territory and ongoing efforts to address the crisis in Gaza, as well as its implications for regional peace, stability, and security.

Sheikh Mohamed and Rubio also discussed cooperation between their countries, as well as ways to further deepen ties across various fields in pursuit of their joint interests.