KUWAIT: Kuwait and US military forces held drills at Shuwaikh Port yesterday as part of the joint US-GCC annual military exercises, Eagle Resolve. More than 3,000 military personnel from Kuwait, the GCC and the United States are taking part in the three week exercise.

"These exercises strengthens the cooperation on defense level between the GCC countries and other friendly countries," Lt Gen. Mohammed Al-Khudhur, General Chief of Staff of Kuwait Armed Forces told the Kuwait Times.

"Hasm Aloqban (Eagle Resolve) also raises [Kuwait's] defensive capabilities to respond to crises. We should always be ready, so we have training to be able to defend ourselves. And I would like to thank all those who participated in this training," Al-Khudhur said.

Exercises include 'insertions', urban warfare, responses to terrorism, capturing hostile forces and joint operational efficacy on land, sea and air.

"This is part of the US commitment to the security of Kuwait which is very long standing," Lawrence Silverman, US Ambassador to Kuwait said. "The training is part of the effort by the United States to support the capabilities of the Kuwaiti forces and our Gulf friends to deal with any threat from outside enemies and the terrorists," he noted.

Participating militaries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States and Peninsula Shield Forces. Kuwaiti ministries, institutions, and governmental agencies are also participating. This is the Kuwaiti Government's second time hosting this exercise. Kuwait hosted Eagle Resolve 2015; the first iteration was held in Tampa, Florida in 1999.

The exercises will conclude April 19, 2017 and are being conducted across Kuwait.

By Nawara Fattahova