Bahrain's military has said the United States and eight other countries are taking part in the Gulf nation's largest air force exercises in more than two decades. The official Bahrain News Agency says at least 100 warplanes were taking part in the drills Sunday, which come amid heightened Western pressures on Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. Bahrain also is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. Bahrain says the aerial maneuvers are its biggest since 1988 and include Arab allies, Turkey, Pakistan and the US. Brig. Gen. Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, Bahrain Royal Air Force Commander described the exercise as a solid foundation for joint GCC military exercises. He revealed that these military exercises have regularly been hosted once every two years at the Sheikh Isa Airbase. He added that these drills have received full support and an enthusiastic welcome from the commanders of air forces of participating countries who closely worked together in pre-planning for this big event.
