Activities of Friendship 3 drill as well as Desert Hawk 3 drill have been launched today where the Saudi and U.S. land forces, jointly, took part, in the presence of the Commander of the North Western Area Maj. Gen. Saad Abdullah Al-Qarni. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the commander extended thanks and gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, for their unlimited support for the region and its forces, alike. He thanked also the Chief of the General Staff and the Commander of the Land Forces for their support to make each of the two drills a success. He added that the drills are joint exercises between the Saudi and US troops, pointing that aim of these drills is to raise readiness of the Saudi forces in the region. -- SPA 22:14 LOCAL TIME 19:14 GMT تغريد