The logistic exercise “Fury 24” commenced between the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and the US Marine Corps in the exercise operations area at the Yanbu Commercial Port on the Red Sea coast.
The exercise was inaugurated in the presence of the Commander of the Western Region, Brigadier Pilot Ahmed Al-Dubais, along with several senior officers from the Saudi Armed Forces, and from the American side, the Director of the Advanced US Central Command in Saudi Arabia, Brigadier General Richard J. Quirk, and several senior officials in the US military.
Brigadier General Akab Al-Mutairi, the commander of “Fury 24” exercise, explained that the exercise, which was executed in several stages with the participation of various governmental entities, aimed to enhance coordination and partnership, exchange experiences between both sides, and elevate the training level in utilizing military bases and road networks in the Kingdom. Additionally, it included training on collaboration with civil and military governmental entities to execute such exercises.
He affirmed that the exercise involved multiple scenarios and training on transportation, supply, and live ammunition firing, starting from Yanbu Governorate, passing through several areas, and reaching the Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, while the US forces continued the exercise in the sisterly United Arab Emirates.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has been active in conducting and participating in a variety of military drills, highlighting its commitment to regional security and the enhancement of its military capabilities through international cooperation.
In April, The mixed aerial exercise “Iniochos 2024” commenced at the Air Warfare Center in Andravida Air Base, Greece, with the participation of the Saudi Royal Air Forces and forces from several friendly countries to enhance the readiness and efficiency of the participating air force personnel, qualifying them to execute their missions and assisting them in performing tasks away from the main bases.
One notable drill was the “Sada Tanseeq,” the first-ever joint military exercise between India and Saudi Arabia, which took place in Rajasthan, Northern India. This exercise aimed at honing the interoperability of the two countries’ armies in semi-desert terrain, allowing them to share best practices and techniques for operations in sub-conventional locations.
Saudi Arabia also led the “Red Wave 5” naval exercise off its Red Sea coast near Jeddah, involving countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, including Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Yemen, and observers from Somalia. The exercise, under the command of the Saudi Western Fleet, aimed to strengthen military cooperation, unify naval operations, exchange combat experience, and increase combat readiness. This initiative reflects a regional dedication to ensuring the security of the Red Sea, a vital international economic corridor.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia and the United States conducted joint drills to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) threats, which have become a significant concern due to the proliferation of drones across the region. These exercises aimed to enhance the defense capabilities against drones, with Saudi Arabia relying on US-made Patriots for intercepting missiles and drones, primarily those launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The drills included tracking and destroying simulated invading drones within regional airspace, highlighting the strong partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US in addressing emerging threats and enhancing the defense capabilities against them.
