GCC forces test skills to counter foe

Joint drill held on Failaka Island

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 25: The Peninsula Shield Forces on Monday participated in a joint military exercise on Failaka Island as part of the final phase of the Ninth Peninsula Shield Forces Training Program that started on Feb 10 and will conclude on Feb 26.

Kuwait Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Khalid AlJarrah Al-Sabah, the Jordanian Army Chief, GCC Secretary General Abdul Latif Al-Zaiyani and other military officials in GCC countries attended the joint exercise.

The drill started with a mock invasion of Failaka Island. Members of the ‘Human Frogs’ brigade acted as the enemies who planted missiles in different parts of the island, after which the trainees detonated the missiles and other explosives from the air using Apache helicopters while attacking the territory of the enemies. The trainees then took control of the occupied area and raised the Kuwaiti flag to declare victory over the invaders.

In general, the training program is aimed at promoting the concept of joint efforts between the GCC security forces to enhance their skills and ensure that they are ready to face any kind of emergency.

Speaking after the drill, Assistant Director of the training program Major General Mohammad Al-Khudair stressed that the 52nd anniversary of Kuwait’s independence, the 22nd anniversary of its liberation from Iraq and the seventh anniversary of the ascendance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the throne are important national occasions, which the people of Kuwait should celebrate with joy and pride. He also underscored the need for all GCC countries to unite their forces against any external enemy.

Other officials, who were at the site, expressed satisfaction over the smooth flow of the drill as it gave the participants a chance to test and develop their combat skills.