DAMMAM: The second phase of the joint Saudi-Gulf military drill, Gulf Shield 10, concluded on Thursday in the Eastern Province.
Military forces from all member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) took part, with different sectors, including land, air and sea forces, air defense forces and special units, along with Saudi security and military personnel from the National Guard, all being deployed.
The drill focused on demonstrating the GCC’s military capacity, and on testing the latest arms and weapons systems in a mock combat scenario. It also allowed the participating nations to practice cooperation and integral military coordination for when faced with potential threats.
Brig. Gen. Abdullah Hussein Al-Subaihi said the maneuver used state-of-the-art combat simulators and virtual military operations, led by senior officers, to train field commanders.
He added that the third phase will begin on Saturday, involving field training with live ammunition, followed by the fourth and final phase, the closing ceremony, after which the other Gulf forces will return home.
Gulf Shield 10 is one of the largest military exercises in the region, both in terms of the number of countries participating, and the scale of military resources deployed.
