Saudi Arabia is conducting live-fire drills during war games underway in the Gulf, official media said yesterday.
Exercise Gulf Shield 1 has begun with naval ships, aircraft, marines and “special units”, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The manoeuvres are also taking place in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.
Navy Brigadier Majid al-Qahtani said the exercises include “shooting of live ammunition” as part of the effort to improve combat readiness and protect the kingdom’s waters “against any possible aggression”.
The Royal Saudi Navy says the latest exercise is part of a series.
A Saudi-led coalition, including naval forces, operates a blockade of Yemen as part of efforts to prevent weapons reaching Shia Houthi rebels and their allies who overran much of Saudi Arabia’s neighbour.
The United States and Saudi Arabia accuse Iran of sending missiles and other weapons to the rebels, but Tehran denies the charge.
Riyadh’s ally Washington has accused Iran of repeated dangerous encounters with the US Navy in and around the Strait of Hormuz in recent months.
Last week, an Iranian commander said two of Tehran’s warships held manoeuvres with an Italian frigate in the Strait of Hormuz after it made an Iranian port call.




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