HM King attends military drill conclusion

Jubail, Apr.16 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, took pride in the participation of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) in the Joint Gulf Shield-1 military drill. "Bahrain always stood united with brothers and friends, assuming military and noble humanitarian duties", he said, stressing the Kingdom’s resolve to continue altogether to achieve security and peace in the region and the world. He said that the continuous BDF participation in the Operation Restore Hope, under the Saudi-led Arab Alliance, aims to support justice and peace and provide humanitarian relief aid to the Yemeni brethren.  This came as he attended the conclusion of the Joint Gulf Shield-1 military drill, at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. HM the King congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the participating states on the success of the military drill, thanking him on the invitation to attend the final ceremony. He also extended congratulations to the brave Saudi soldiers and participants from other brotherly and friendly countries, as well as organisers, hailing their high professional competence. He lauded deep-rooted historic relations binding the two countries and peoples, as well as fraternal cooperation with brothers and friends. The Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) took part in the Saudi-led military exercise in Eastern province, among twenty-five countries. The military exercise, considered one of the largest in the world, both in terms of the number of participating countries and the weaponry, aims to raise military readiness, modernize joint mechanisms and enhance coordination and cooperation with joint military and security integration to maintain regional security and confront all challenges and threats.  Before the start of the ceremony, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received leaders and senior representatives of the brotherly and friendly countries taking part in the drill, in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The Saudi Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Fayyadh bin Hamid Al-Rwaili delivered a speech, paying tribute to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for patronizing the final ceremony. He said that the Gulf Shield Exercise 1, which represents an extension of previous joint exercises such as the North Thunder Exercise, aims at consolidating security and enhancing the professional competence and combat readiness of the forces taking part in the drill.  HM the King attended a lunch banquet hosted by the Saudi leader in honour of the Arab leaders attending the conclusion of the Joint Gulf Shield-1 military drill. He then bade farewell to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and thanked him on the kind invitation, wishing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its brotherly people further progress and prosperity.