New Delhi, March 12, 2016: Saudi Arabia has successfully concluded North Thunder, a military exercise, yesterday with the aim of unifying the region’s military forces to promote peace and stability.
A press statement by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office said that the “exercise was one of the largest military exercises in the region, uniting 20 Arab and Islamic nations in a display of unity against terrorism and extremism.”
“We are proud of our solidarity in North Thunder; showing the world our joint resolve in deterring evil and fighting extremism and terrorism,” tweeted Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
North Thunder provided the region’s top military forces a chance to coordinate at the highest levels against threats to peace and stability in the region. The military training included exercises on how to combat guerilla warfare.
Participating countries included Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Turkey, Chad, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Oman, Qatar, Comoros, Kuwait, Maldives, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco and Mauritania in addition to Saudi Arabia and the joint Peninsula Shield Force.
The exercise is also significant as it showcases Saudi Arabia’s resolve to fight extremism and also highlights it role as the head of the Islamic world. It is likely that Saudi Arabia would see itself as a prime player against the war on terror that has engulfed Middle-East and other parts of the world. It seems likely that it won’t shy away from its responsibility either.
what is also important to state is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a target of the Islamic State as well. Many have failed to recognize that the Islamic State uses the religion card against the Kingdom, just like it uses it against the non-Muslims, which is the custodian of the moral authority of the Islamic world!
This is perhaps the biggest irony of the war on terror, and indeed, a stronger Saudi Arabia taking steps to fight terrorism is needed.
Feature Image credit: newshe.at
