Joint Saudi, US and UK naval exercises continue in Eastern Province

The Royal Saudi Navy, along with the US Navy counterparts and British minesweepers continued a mixed joint naval exercise. (SPA)

• The Naval Defender 21 exercise began on Thursday at King Abdul Aziz Naval Base
• The exercise includes a number of combat scenarios

RIYADH: A joint naval exercise involving the Royal Saudi Navy, US Navy and British minesweeper vessels continued on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Naval Defender 21 exercise — which began on Thursday at King Abdul Aziz Naval Base, the headquarters of the Eastern Fleet in the coastal city of Jubail in the Eastern Province — includes a number of combat scenarios, such as dealing with hostile targets using live ammunition, formations for naval boarding, maritime rescue and ports defense.
“The mixed Naval Defender 21 exercise implemented various hypotheses and formations for naval vessels, with the participation of the navy aviation, the Marines Corps (and) maritime special security units,” according to the report. It added that the exercises also include weapons training with live ammunition.