By Rohail Khan,
Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister, led the proceedings of the largest military exercise in the Kingdom’s history on 29th April 2014.
“Saif -e- Abdullah” or Sword of Abdullah was conducted with utmost professionalism by the Saudi Armed Forces in the outskirts of Hafr Al-Batin, a historical city located in North Eastern Saudi Arabia.
Tens of thousands of Saudi soldiers, backed by military jets, helicopters, light and heavy armoured vehicles loaded with anti-missile systems, participated in the maneuvers aimed at strengthening the Saudi armed forces’ fighting capabilities.
The Saudi Crown Prince watched with great enthusiasm the combined exercise of Helicopters of ground, air, naval forces, the Royal Saudi Air Force show, the Green Falcons combat exercises, and the Paratroopers exercise of special ground and naval forces.
The Saudi Crown Prince considered it a “landmark event in the Saudi, Gulf and Arabian Military History”. He was assisted by Eastern Province Governor HRH Prince Saud Bin Naif Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and senior most Government and military officials.
Pakistan’s COAS General Raheel Sharif, King Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of UAE armed forces, and Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Defence Minister, witnessed and lauded the strategic historical event.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahayan praised Saudi Armed Forces’ efficiency in dealing with weapons and advanced military equipment. He said that Armed Forces’ preparedness and competency is a cornerstone in GCC joint defence.
According to Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, the grand exercise clearly reflected the advanced and superior capabilities achieved by the Saudi Armed Forces.
King Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa added that “conducting such a magnificent military drill reflects Saudi Arabia’s keenness on upgrading its Armed Forces’ combat competency”.
Pakistan’s COAS General Raheel Sharif, expressed professional pride on the joint exercise. He complimented: “the joint exercise reflected Saudi Arabia’s outstanding development and professionalism in the military field and proves the Saudi Government’s commitment and readiness to face security threats”.
