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| Arabia |
| Iran warns Soddys against moves in gulf |
| 2016-10-06 |
| [al-Manar] The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy in a statement on Wednesday warned Saudi Arabia against any move under the pretext of military drills which would endanger security and stir tension in the Persian Gulf. “We declare to all the vessels present in Saudi Arabia’s stated wargames, including the Saudi navy’s vessels and others, that the IRGC Navy believes that principally, these drills are a clear instance of stirring tensions and weakening sustainable security in the Persian Gulf,” the statement said. The comments came a week after the Saudi navy said it plans to stage drills in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz in the near future. Stressing that passage of the military vessels participating in the wargames through Iran’s territorial waters will not be allowed at all, it warned the Saudis not to even sail through the international waters near the Iranian waters. “The IRGC Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army are fully prepared to maintain sustainable security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and will properly and rapidly confront any move, attempt and measure to disturb tranquility and security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman,” the statement added. The Saudi media had reported late September that the country’s navy will hold exercises in the Persian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz soon. Exercise “Gulf Shield 1” will also take place in the Sea of Oman, with ships, planes, marines and other personnel taking part, said Royal Saudi Navy commander Abdullah Al Sultan. Gulf Shield 1 is part of a series of exercises the fleet has carried out in the area, Sultan said in comments cited by the official Saudi Press Agency. The maneuvers aim to “raise combat readiness” and improve skills for defending the country’s borders, protecting sea lanes “and to deter any aggression or potential terrorist operations”, the SPA report said. Soddy press release on Gulf Naval Exercises Dammam–The Saudi Royal Naval Forces started “Gulf Shield 1” maneuvers in the Arabian Gulf waters, Oman Sea, and the strategic Strait of Hurmuz, world’s most important oil route. Formations of the Royal Saudi Navy Forces of Eastern Fleet are participating in these drills which include the King’s warships, speedboats, air navy aircraft, Marine Corps and special security naval units. Commander of “Gulf Shield 1” Rear Admiral Majed al-Qahtani said that this is the biggest drill being conducted by the Eastern Fleet of the Saudi Royal Naval Forces. Qahtani said that maneuvers include all naval operations including air, surface and subsurface warfare and electronic warfare as well as mine operations, deployment of Marines, special naval security units, and live ammunition shooting. “The exercises include shooting of live ammunition as part of the efforts to improve combat readiness and protect the Kingdom’s waters and marine interests against any possible aggression,” Qahtani explained. He pointed out that these exercises are an extension of the prepared plans and training programs to raise the combat readiness and professional performance for units of the naval forces in preparation for protecting Saudi Arabia’s marine interests against any possible aggression. Saudi Royal Naval Forces will deploy from the Arab Gulf to Oman Sea through the Hurmuz Strait to test their military abilities and combat readiness in case of terrorist operations or any military attack from hostile foreign troops. Saudi Military Analyst retired Col Omar al-Amiri said that such maneuvers need a wide area and open waters. He added that Gulf Shield confirms Saudi Arabia’s military ability to protect ships and secure water straits, in addition to participating in the Arab coalition operations in Yemen. Kuwaiti Military Analyst Fahid al-Shalimi commented, saying that the kingdom has done the right thing by deploying its navy all the way to Hurmuz Strait. Shalimi explained that the maneuvers reveal the ability of Saudi Naval Forces participating in protecting the most important energy strait. He added that Hurmuz is an important international strait and protecting it is everyone’s responsibility. Obaid Al-Suhaymi |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #1 |
| Posted by: Bobby 2016-10-06 13:55 |