The Eager Lion 2019 military exercise is ongoing in Jordan with the participation of 8,000 military specialists from 30 countries, including Saudi Arabia.
The drill is considered one of the largest in the region in terms of the number of participants and the quality of exercises and activities, which involve dealing with electronic warfare.
Commander of the Saudi forces taking part in the exercise Brigadier General Jaafar al-Qahtani said that in the drill’s first stages, which were recently completed, participating units from the Saudi armed forces achieved their goals and tasks with high competence and efficiency.
Various branches of the Saudi armed forces have participated in this exercise, including land, air, sea and air defense in addition to ground forces and officers from the Joint Task Force, Qahtani noted.
He explained that the exercises carried out over the past period included training the forces on joint action, combating terrorism, urban fighting, freeing hostages, planning and responding to electronic warfare (Cyber), implementing strategic bombings and transport operations, and evacuating the injured and providing them with first-aid.
They also included training snipers and preparing forces to be able to protect themselves from weapons of mass destruction and planning and implementing joint operations.
Training on international maritime security was also carried out along with psychological warfare operations and training to monitor and destruct hostile remote booby-trapped boats.
Qahtani also pointed out that the exercises simulate reality and are mostly carried out with live ammunition, adding that many of the important events will take place in the coming days, including the “Symposium of Senior Leaders” and a “Symposium for Senior Officers.”
The drill will conclude next weekend with the US, Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, South Korea, Japan, Jordan and Egypt’s participation.
