[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="20-nation North Thunder drills end in Hafr Al-Batin" ids="40924,40922,40921,40920,40919,40909,40923,40910,40911,40912,40913,40914,40915,40916,40917,40918"] IN the presence of several heads of state from across the Muslim world, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman watched on Thursday the spectacular display of military might of Saudi Arabia and 20 Muslim countries in Hafr Al-Batin in the Northern Border Region. The ceremony, marking the conclusion of a two-week-long counter-terrorism military exercise "North Thunder" was held at King Khalid Military City near Saudi Arabia's northern border with Iraq and Kuwait. The region's biggest-ever military drills focused on how to coordinate combat operations and guerrilla warfare tactics among the Muslim-majority countries that are members of 34-nation counter-terrorism Islamic alliance announced by the Kingdom in December. Warplanes roared overhead, tanks rumbled across the desert and smoke filled the skies to mark the final events of the exercises, which Saudi Arabia has described as a show of regional unity. The two-hour mock battle, featuring fighter jets, attack helicopters and tanks, will be followed by a mammoth military parade with involvement of all the participating countries on Friday. At the outset of the ceremony, King Salman and other guests listened to a briefing on the exercise and the deployment of forces during the 20-country joint military exercise that aimed at unifying armed tactics for the region's stability. The guests watched military drills displayed jointly by the ground, air and defense forces from the participating countries, showcasing the potential and combat readiness of ground and air forces to confront the enemy, destroy hostile targets and repulse any aggression, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The heads of state and leaders from Muslim countries who were present to witness to the massive show included Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir; Yemen's President Abdrabbu Hadi; Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, emir of Kuwait; Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, emir of Qatar; President Macky Sall of Senegal; President Idriss Deby Anto of Chad; President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania; President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti; President Dr. Ikililou Dhoinine of Comoros; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai; and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdulilah Benkirane. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior; Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense; Prince Saud Bin Naif, emir of the Eastern Province; Chief of Staff Gen. Abdurahman Al-Bunyan; and other high ranking civilian and military officials were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Gen. Al-Bunyan said the military exercise is aimed at boosting the unity of ranks, warding off the dangers facing Arab and Islamic nations, maintaining the security and stability, and raising the combat readiness level. "The objectives of the drills also include assessing the capability to manage military operations on the basis of the military position through strengthening military cooperation among the sisterly countries and activate the concept of joint work to confront all the potential challenges and threats," he said while describing the 15-day drills as one of the largest military exercises in terms of the number of participating troops and the widening zone of military operations. Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Asiri, spokesman of the coalition forces and adviser at the office of the minister of defense, said earlier that the drills were aimed at preparing to tackle the region's "terrorist menace" and were not directed against Iran. Asiri said the alliance brought together Arab and Islamic forces to gain experience and they would be prepared to protect the region's stability if needed.
