Commander-in-Chief attends North Thunder closing stage

Manama, Mar 10 (BNA): Commander-in-Chief of Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, this morning, attended the closing stage of the joint military exercise (North Thunder) held in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. GCC military forces alongside Arab, Islamic and friendly forces took part in the military exercise. BDF Commander-in-Chief said that North Thunder is the most important military exercise has ever held in the history of the region. It aimed attaining the highest level of military efficiency and combat readiness to face challenges target destabilizing the region. He hailed the BDF's high competence and skills demonstrated throughout the phases of exercise. He said that the BDF participation comes in the implementation of the directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on promoting joint military cooperation and coordination among GCC states on one side and reinforcing the same with Arab and Islamic countries on the other, as well as uplifting combat readiness and gaining more experience. He stressed redoubling efforts to develop the joint action which reflects the strength of GCC, Arab and Islamic military cooperation. BDF Commander-in-Chief was received upon arrival at King Saud Air Base by Assistant Defence Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Aiesh and a number of senior officers.