Saudi Arabia concluded a month-long military exercise involving more than two dozen nations on Monday (April 16th), a day after hosting an Arab summit that slammed Iran's growing interference in the region, AFP reported.
The exercise on Saudi Arabia's east coast, dubbed Gulf Shield-1, involved combat search-and-rescue drills as well as naval warfare and air operations, officials said.
Saudi King Salman presided over the closing ceremony of the drills, which he said highlighted a "unified alliance" between over 24 countries to combat military threats.
"The event is... meant to demonstrate our ability to take joint military action, the region's readiness to support Arab unity and its capacity to deter any threats," military spokesman Abdullah Subaei was quoted as saying in a Saudi information ministry statement.
"This exercise demonstrates that we have the co-operation of friendly nations, our experience and expertise to deal with those threats."
