Battle-ready KSA warns enemies

Saudi Arabia has warned that it is ready to defend its territory if attacked, as the Kingdom held its largest military exercise with 130,000 soldiers of its armed forces.
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, was present at the event entitled “Saif Abdullah” in Hafr Al-Baten, located northeast of the country.
King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy commander of the UAE armed forces, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti deputy premier and defense minister, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif and Mohammed Al-Rasibi, secretary-general of the defense ministry in Oman, attended the event.
A statement issued by the Pakistani Embassy said Crown Prince Salman invited Sharif to the event. Deputy Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Sultan and Chief of Staff Gen. Hussain Al-Qubail welcomed Sharif when he arrived.
Backed by military jets, helicopters, ships, tankers, anti-missile systems and other heavy equipment, the different sectors of the armed forces took part in the maneuvers aimed at strengthening their fighting capabilities.
“By conducting this exercise, we are preparing our forces to defend our holy places and our achievements … and we don’t intend to attack anyone because it’s not the Kingdom’s policy,” Al-Qubail said at the closing ceremony.
However, Al-Qubail stressed that the Kingdom would defend itself against any aggressors. The exercise was carried out under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, supreme commander of the armed forces.
“It was a good coincidence that the exercise took place on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of King Abdullah’s accession to the throne,” the chief of staff said. In addition to the armed forces, units of the National Guard, and the Interior Ministry’s security forces deployed in the eastern, southern and northern provinces took part.
“These maneuvers are aimed at raising the training level of our forces and testing their preparedness to deter enemy attacks,” Al-Qubail said. He commended King Abdullah for his efforts to strengthen the armed forces by providing soldiers weapons, housing and healthcare.
Prince Salman and other participants witnessed the military exercises on three platforms under different geographical and climatic conditions. The exercises were controlled from Riyadh.
National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif, Deputy Gov. Prince Jelawi bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed, Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif, State Minister Mohammed bin Salman, GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani and other senior civilian and military officers attended.
Meanwhile, Prince Salman opened an 800-unit housing project at King Khaled Military City on an area of one million square meters. He also attended a luncheon hosted by the Northern Province command.