Saudi Arabia initiates 20-nation military exercises

Saudi Arabia has reportedly launched the largest military drill in the region’s history, according to state media, using troops from 20 nations.

Gen. Jazayeri was responding to a question on whether Iran planned to send more military advisors to Syria were Saudi troops to be deployed there, risking a direct confrontation between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Countries participating include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Senegal, Sudan, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Chad, Tunisia, Comoros, Djibouti, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, Egypt, Mauritania, Mauritius, in addition to the Peninsula shield forces. According a Saudi Source, members of this “Anti-Terrorism” coalition will meet in Saudi Arabia in its first public meeting next month.

Dubai-Saudi Arabia has deployed warplanes to a Turkish airbase in order to “intensify” its operations against the Islamic State group in Syria, a senior Saudi defence official has said.

But the start of the exercises comes just two days after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Saudi jets would be based at Turkey’s air base of Incirlik in Adana province to fight Islamic State (IS) militants.

“It will serve to boost fighting capabilities, exchange information, benefit from experiences and expertise and enhance coordination between the participating countries”, he said.

Iran’s air defense chief says his country is ready to help defend Syria’s airspace.

The announcement followed a weekend visit to Riyadh by Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Burkhalter, his department said in a statement. Saudi Arabia does not “have an organised army or units to send to Syria”, said Ossi. But if that doesn’t work, it will be because of the obstinance of the Syrian regime and that of its allies.

Major powers agreed in Munich on Friday to a pause in combat in Syria, but Russian Federation pressed on with bombing in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ally.

“The Saudi deployment is only limited to air force personnel at this point”, he said.

“If the Saudi soldiers want to try to fight against us, they will have to write their names on their graves before they even think of resisting us”, the spokesman added.