SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi special forces show off their skills and preparedness to deal with terror attacks, kidnappers and hostage situations

Record ID: 189361

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi special forces show off their skills and preparedness to deal with terror attacks, kidnappers and hostage situations
  • Date: 27th March 2014
  • Summary: SAUDI HONOUR GUARDS STANDING IN SALUTATION OF SAUDI INTERIOR MINISTER, PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAYEF PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAYEF SALUTING
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVABIGZQDIX0HT6LDRGUSHBJ5WWM
  • Story Text: It looks real enough, but this hostage-taking scenario was part of a display of several mock military operations the Saudi Special Emergency Forces put on display on Thursday (March 27) in Dharma.
    The four-hour display, aimed at showing the forces' ability to deal with challenging military situations, was watched by Saudi Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef.
    In an opening speech, an SEF official praised the forces for their skills.

    "Our security is alert and does not ever rest, it crushes all terrorism and eradicates it from its roots, and you, Your Highness, are at the top of the security pyramid. We not only face the challenges, but we overcome them. This operation shows the high motivation of the brave security men, the fast-moving events and their understanding of them and the implementation on the ground," he said.
    The mock operations were all conducted against would-be militants, highlighting SEM's shooting skills and symbolically cleaning Saudi Arabia's flag of 'terrorism'.
    In another mock scenario, special forces free a hostage and capture the so-called 'terrorist'.
    No effort was spared to make the mock situations as real as possible, with the deployment of proper military helicopters, real-life explosions and the storming of buildings.
    Saudi Arabia is focusing on boosting the skills of their special forces, in a climate where the kingdom faces new challenges stemming from the ongoing conflict in Syria as well as Egypt's confrontation with the Muslim Brotherhood.
    Like Egypt, Saudi Arabia has labelled the Brotherhood a 'terrorist organisation'.
    Saudi Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, perhaps the most powerful younger prince in the ruling al-Saud family, is shaping Riyadh's new emphasis on protecting the kingdom from a fresh wave of Islamist militancy inspired by the war in Syria.
    The kingdom's rulers fear their support for rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad may inadvertently revitalise radicalism at home.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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