Riyadh - Arab Today
The Royal Saudi Navy Forces started on Tuesday their Gulf Shield 1 maneuvers in the waters of Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, the official Saudi news agency SPA reported.
Groups of the Royal Saudi Navy Forces of eastern fleet are participating in the drills, which include warships, speedboats, air navy aircraft, marine corps and special security naval units.
Commander of the exercises, Rear Admiral Majed bin Hazza'a Al-Qahtani said the maneuvers are one of the largest of their kind to be conducted by the eastern fleet in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman through the Strait of Hormuz, SPA reported.
Al-Qahtani said Gulf Shield 1 include air, surface and subsurface warfare and electronic warfare operations as well as mine operations, deployment of marines, special naval security units and live ammunition's shootings, pointing out that these exercises are an extension of the prepared plans and training programs to raise the combat readiness and professional performance for units and employees of the naval forces in preparation for the protection of the marine interests of Saudi Arabia against any possible aggression.
Source : QNA