Royal Saudi Navy Launches Major Gulf Shield 1 Military Drills

The Royal Saudi Navy on Tuesday launched Gulf Shield 1 military drills in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Saudi Press Agency, Gulf Shield 1 exercises involve units of the Royal Saudi Navy Forces of Eastern Fleet, including warships, naval aircraft and special security naval units.

Rear Adm. Majed bin Hazza'a Al-Qahtani, the commander of the exercise, described Gulf Shield 1 as "one of the largest of its kind" launched by the Eastern Fleet to raise the combat readiness of troops, according to the agency.