US joint military exercises in the southern region, “Friendship II,” concluded Monday. The exercises help upgrade the army's preparedness, Commander of the Southern Region Maj. Gen. Ali Zaid Khawaji said in an address at the closing ceremony, noting that they also once again confirmed the firmness of relations binding the Kingdom with the United States of America. Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Hussein Bin Abdullah Al-Gubail, Commander of the Air Forces, Gen. Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh and the US Ambassador to the Kingdom James Smith attended the ceremony.