Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — The Gulf Cooperation Council has concluded one of its
largest military exercises in years.

The GCC’s Peninsula Shield ended a 17-day exercise in Kuwait that
combined air, naval and ground forces. Officials said the exercise showed a
high degree of performance by a range of units.

“The joint activities and harmony in the GCC have reached an advanced level,” Kuwait Prime Minister Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah said.

Officials said the Peninsula Shield exercise tested interoperability
among the six GCC militaries. They also cited efforts to enhance combat skills, particularly under harsh desert conditions. Air and naval maneuvers took place around the Kuwaiti island of Failaka in the northern Gulf.

“It sends a clear message that GCC states are ready to protect their
security, stability, sovereignty and activate the concept of joint defense,” Kuwait Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al Othman said.

Officials said the exercise was deemed a success but did not elaborate.
They said the maneuvers demonstrated that Peninsula Shield, which consists
of more than 30,000 soldiers, could repel any regional threat, including
that of neighboring Iran.

The next Peninsula Shield exercise was scheduled to take place in Saudi
Arabia. They said the GCC was arranging exercises for the next decade.

“The well-trained and -equipped GCC force has the ability to deter any
enemy and protect GCC states,” Bahraini Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Duaij Bin
Salman Al Khalifa said.

  Gulf states end 17-day exercise, island of Faliaka, Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah, Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al Othman, Maj. Gen. Duaij Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Peninsula Shield, prepared ‘to deter any enemy’, send ‘clear message’ to Iran