Kuwait’s security apparatus ‘wraps’ up 3-day NATO week

Kuwaitis fighting alongside ‘terrorist groups’ refuse to return home

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 20, (Agencies): The NATO-Kuwait Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Centre of the Kuwait National Security Apparatus on Tuesday wrapped up the “NATO Week”, a plethora of activities dedicated to the international military alliance.

The event reaffirmed the crucial security and maritime security as well as planning for emergencies in cities.

The third and the final day of the “NATO Week” tackled a host of topics, including protection of the infrastructure, and boosting cooperation on the relevant issues, Director of the NATO-Kuwait ICI center Fawaz Al-Othman said in a press statement.

The “NATO Week”, the first of its kind in the Gulf region, aimed at building strategic ties and an effective partnership among the Gulf states that are members of the ICI, Al-Othman added. In addition, the event sought to benefit from the NATO expertise in the scientific, training and technical fields, as well as streamlining the application of the cooperation program for Kuwait, he said.

Chief of the Kuwait National Security Apparatus Chief Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali Al-Sabah had said earlier that such key events reiterated Kuwait’s backing of the regional and international security.

The “NATO Week” included workshops on topics that run the gamut from cyber security and crisis management to maritime security.

Meanwhile, the Kuwaitis fighting alongside some ‘terrorist groups’ in Syria reportedly refuse to return to Kuwait, reports Al-Rai daily quoting Kuwaiti sources close to the fighting factions in Syria.

Security

The sources, added their refusal stems from of security pursuits and prosecutions. Some of them have already been sentenced in absentia to up to 10 years in prison.

The sources pointed out that, the Kuwaiti authorities represented by the Ministry of Interior has filed lawsuits against some of these fighters, either on charges of financing terrorism or joining armed groups.

The sources estimated the number of Kuwaiti fighters in Syria as more than 100, pointing out this number includes Bedouns who deserted Kuwait.

The sources also added that, out of this number, not more than 10 occupy senior religious and military positions in these groups.

The sources noted most of the fighters affiliate to Tahrir Al-Sham movement, followed by the movement of Ahrar Sham and then a few in DAESH and the rest of the fighting groups.

The sources also say some of the jihadist perhaps think of returning to Kuwait one day, but others whose identities are known to the authorities are not expected to return for fear of being prosecuted.