Members of Qatari Armed Forces arrive to participate in joint military exercises in Hafr Al-Batin, near Saudi Arabia’s border with Iraq in this handout photo by Saudi Press Agency released yesterday. Thousands of soldiers from 20 countries started arriving in the Saudi city of Hafr Al-Batin on Sunday and Monday before what organisers said will be the largest military exercises in the region. The exercises dubbed “Nothern Thunder” will start today and are set to last for 18 days.