Saudi forces conclude military exercises
RIYADH: The Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force Lt. Gen. Prince Turki bin Bandar attended the closing ceremony of the 'Victory Spears 2025' exercise at the Air Warfare Center in Dhahran on Thursday.
The exercise involved the Saudi Armed Forces, Ministry of National Guard, Presidency of State Security, National Cybersecurity Authority, and forces from 15 nations.
Prince Turki also laid the foundation stone for the first expansion of the center, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The exercise included various air and maritime operations, demonstrating a high level of readiness in planning, preparation and execution by the armed forces, the SPA added.
Prince Turki highlighted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inaugurated the Air Warfare Center in 2019, with a vision to make it a world-class facility.
Prince Turki emphasized the inclusion of cyber warfare as a new dimension of the exercise, underscoring the air force's commitment to developing the center.
He thanked Saud Arabia's leadership for continuing to support initiatives that have enabled the Royal Saudi Air Force to achieve the highest levels of combat readiness.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
27-05-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Royal Saudi Air Force Concludes Participation in Anatolian Phoenix Joint Exercise
The Royal Saudi Air Force concluded its participation in the Anatolian Phoenix 2025 exercise at Konya Air Base in Türkiye, alongside forces from several friendly countries, following the successful execution of multiple combat search and rescue drills. At the conclusion of the exercise, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force Contingent Lieutenant Colonel Pilot Abdulrahman Al-Mansour stated that the force had participated for two weeks in various training activities and coordination efforts, SPA reported. These exercises demonstrated a high level of professionalism among the air, technical, and support crews, as well as their strong capabilities in planning and executing joint operational missions. He emphasized that the drills aimed to exchange expertise and enhance combat readiness in a realistic combat-like environment, highlighting that the desired objectives of the exercise were successfully achieved. The Royal Saudi Air Force participated in the exercise with two Cougar combat search and rescue helicopters, fully staffed with air, technical, and support crews, along with six air controllers.
Saudi Gazette
09-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi national freed after 19 years in US prison, set for deportation
DENVER — Saudi citizen Homaidan Al-Turki, 56, is expected to arrive in the Kingdom in the coming days following nearly two decades of imprisonment in the United States. Al-Turki was convicted in 2006 on charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault against his Indonesian housekeeper in the state of Colorado, a case that sparked widespread controversy and allegations of judicial bias. According to local media reports, a court in Colorado ruled last week to close Al-Turki's case and authorize his deportation after he accepted a plea agreement. The ruling followed a new hearing in which his legal team successfully argued that his original trial was marred by ineffective counsel. The court agreed to resentence Al-Turki to lesser charges, contingent on his removal from the United States. A representative of the Saudi embassy's legal team and several of Al-Turki's daughters were present at the hearing. Sources familiar with the matter told that Al-Turki was transferred to the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday, with his return to Saudi Arabia pending final procedures. The decision ends a legal saga that began in 2004, when Al-Turki was first arrested alongside his wife for alleged immigration violations. He was later re-arrested in 2006 and sentenced to 28 years in prison. His case drew intense attention both in Saudi Arabia and among Muslim advocacy groups in the US, who argued he was targeted due to rising Islamophobia in the post-9/11 climate. A former linguistics scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Denver, Al-Turki maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, describing himself as a victim of anti-Muslim sentiment. In 2013, while serving his sentence, Al-Turki was briefly investigated in connection with the killing of a Colorado corrections official—a claim he denied and was never charged for. During his incarceration, his family launched repeated legal petitions seeking clemency or case review, all of which were rejected until the latest court decision. With the victim's whereabouts unknown and key witnesses deceased, the district attorney's office cited the challenges of retrying the case as a factor in accepting the plea deal. 'This resolution ensures Al-Turki remains a convicted felon and is permanently removed from our community,' said Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley in a statement. The case, long seen in Saudi Arabia as politically and emotionally charged, is now formally closed. Al-Turki's family has refrained from public comment, awaiting his safe return to Riyadh. — SG with inputs from Agencies
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia, India agree to cooperate in several fields, including defense industries
How Modi's landmark visit to Jeddah added 'further momentum' to historic Saudi-India ties JEDDAH: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets ahead of his touchdown in Jeddah on Tuesday, where he was greeted by a 21-gun salute in a ceremonial welcome that highlighted the growing defense ties between the two countries. The visit marked Modi's first to the Red Sea port city and the first by an Indian premier in more than 40 years. It was also his third visit to Saudi Arabia in a decade, highlighting deepening diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation between Riyadh and New Delhi. 'This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia,' Modi posted on the social media platform X ahead of his arrival, expressing his eagerness to advance bilateral agreements and programs. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, wrote on X that the visit would 'give further momentum' to 'longstanding and historic ties' between Saudi Arabia and India. Referring to the Royal Saudi Air Force escort, Jaiswal posted: 'India-Saudi Arabia friendship flying high!' Modi was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets ahead of his touchdown in Jeddah on Tuesday. (Social Media) Modi's arrival was met with vibrant celebrations among the Indian diaspora — the Kingdom's largest expatriate group. Traditional dances were performed in his honor, and Saudi singer Hashim Abbas paid tribute by singing the Hindi patriotic anthem 'Ae Watan.' Members of the Indian diaspora gathered at a hotel in Jeddah and sang 'Saare Jahan Se Achha' as they awaited Modi's arrival. One of the members of the Indian diaspora told ANI: 'I am very excited to see PM Modi here. We are so grateful that we got this opportunity.' A key part of the visit was the second meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, co-chaired by Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Established in 2019, the SPC has become a vital platform for cooperation in politics, security, trade and culture. Modi's arrival was met with vibrant celebrations among the Indian diaspora. Traditional dances were performed in his honor, and Saudi singer Hashim Abbas paid tribute by singing the Hindi patriotic anthem 'Ae Watan.' (Supplied) In an interview ahead of the visit with Noor Nugali, deputy editor-in-chief of Arab News, Modi emphasized that the bond between India and Saudi Arabia 'is not new.' Rather, 'it is rooted in civilizational exchanges that go back to centuries. 'From ideas to trade, there has been a constant flow between our two great nations,' he said. 'Our relations have been on an upward trajectory since 2014.' One of the most significant areas of growing cooperation has been defense. In recent years, India and Saudi Arabia have held joint military exercises, finalized India's first artillery shell exports to the Kingdom and signed advanced weapons systems deals. Officials said this week's discussions would include expanding naval exercises and strengthening security partnerships — particularly in maritime and cybersecurity domains. 'This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia,' Modi posted on the social media platform X ahead of his arrival, expressing his eagerness to advance bilateral agreements and programs. (SPA) The visit came at a time when both countries are pursuing bold domestic agendas. As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and India rises as a global economic force, the leaders are keen to transform longstanding cultural and economic ties into a comprehensive 21st-century partnership. 'There is much to celebrate in the remarkable transformation of bilateral ties,' journalist and foreign policy analyst C. Raja Mohan said in a recent op-ed for The Indian Express. 'The PM's visit to Jeddah is not only about expanding bilateral relations; it also reflects Saudi Arabia's emergence as a significant geopolitical actor under its crown prince and prime minister, Mohammed bin Salman.' He added: '(Riyadh's) interest-driven, rather than ideologically rigid, approach marks a fundamental shift in the evolution of the Saudi Kingdom — one that echoes the pragmatism of India's own Middle East policy under Modi.' As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and India rises as a global economic force, the leaders are keen to transform longstanding cultural and economic ties into a comprehensive 21st-century partnership. (SPA) Bilateral trade has continued to grow despite global economic turbulence, with energy, agriculture and fertilizers remaining key pillars. Both sides are now eying new areas of cooperation, including green hydrogen, emerging technologies and infrastructure. Indeed, trade between the two countries surged to $52 billion in 2023-24, and officials said several memorandums of understanding would be signed during the visit to bolster both economic and political collaboration. India's economy is seen as being relatively less vulnerable to global headwinds, and calibrated policy support could help the country turn current volatility into an opportunity, the Reserve Bank of India said in its April bulletin released on Tuesday. 'Although the dampening global economic outlook could impact India's economic growth through weaker external demand, the domestic growth engines ... consumption and investment, are relatively less susceptible to external headwinds,' the RBI said in its article, titled 'State of the Economy.' Saudi Arabia has long been a key energy supplier to India, with the Kingdom ranked as the country's third largest source of petroleum, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs. As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India relies heavily on crude and refined oil imports to meet its expanding energy demands. In an interview ahead of the visit with Noor Nugali, deputy editor-in-chief of Arab News, Modi emphasized that the bond between India and Saudi Arabia 'is not new.' Rather, 'it is rooted in civilizational exchanges that go back to centuries. (SPA) That partnership is also evolving in response to global energy transitions, as both countries recognize the urgency of moving toward cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy. India announced its aim of achieving 500 GW renewable energy by 2030 at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, outlining its intention to meet half of its energy requirements from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. The target marked a significant step beyond the country's earlier Paris Agreement commitments and highlighted its growing role in global climate leadership. Modi's itinerary had included a visit to a facility employing Indian workers and a meeting with members of the Indian community. Saudi Arabia is home to 2.7 million Indian residents and workers. The Indian leader, who in 2016 was awarded the King Abdulaziz Sash, Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honor, has made Gulf partnerships a cornerstone of his foreign policy. Analysts said the visit reflected India's broader strategy to cement alliances across West Asia, a region vital to its energy security and home to more than 9 million Indian expatriates.
