UNIPATH STAFF Focused mostly on simulated chemical weapons attacks, Protection Shield 3, a 2022 military exercise in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, attracted participation from more than 320 personnel. They came from the Saudi Armed Forces, the Civil Defense Authority of the Ministry of Interior, the Red Crescent, the Ministry of Health and supporting American units. Three Saudi officers most involved in the exercise spoke to Unipath about what the exercise achieved in warding off asymmetric threats to the region. They are Maj. Gen. Khalid Abu Qais, commander of the Saudi 5th Air Defense, Exercise Director Brig. Gen. Saeed Al Shahrani and…
Unipath
UNIPATH STAFF The vulnerabilities of the Arabian Gulf nations, particularly their exposure to potential attacks from missiles, armed drones and improvised explosive devices, require a defense that combines the strengths of the region’s militaries. Eagle Resolve 22, a multinational exercise held by United States Central Command in March 2022, offered a first glimpse of how countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia could operate an Integrated Air-Missile Defense (IAMD) system to repel such assaults. Eagle Resolve simulations involved attacks by missiles and swarms of drones, detonation of improvised explosive devices, and deceptive social media propaganda designed to weaken the…
We are honored to write this editorial jointly for this special edition of Unipath that focuses on border and coastal defense. Defense requires a watchful eye to maintain security and vigilance while facing national, regional, and global security threats and risks. Many conventional and nonconventional security threats require cooperation and partnership to counter them and ensure security and stability. The deep strategic relationship between the Sultanate of Oman and the United States reflects a close partnership. In 1833, Oman signed a treaty of Amity and Commerce with the U.S. that was ratified by the Congress in 1834. Six years…
WING COL. (PILOT) AHMED JADAE AL MANSOURI, WING COMMANDER, QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE In recent years, the State of Qatar has worked to strengthen its Emiri Air Force by supplying it with the highest-precision aircraft in the world. Starting with the French-built Rafale jets for the Al-Adiyat squadron, the Qatar Emiri Air Force has begun acquisition of the U.S.-built F-15QA Ababil. This comes from the vision of the State Supreme Command to enhance our military capabilities and to safeguard national and regional security. This system was selected for its ability to perform a number of flights and therefore enhance our…
UNIPATH STAFF Terrorists exploit border gaps far from the eyes of the authorities to infiltrate, smuggle weapons, and undermine security and stability. Inadequate control over the Iraqi-Syrian border led to incursions by Daesh into large areas of Iraq in 2014. Therefore, countries of the region are keen to upgrade border security and thwart smuggling and terrorism attempts. Unipath interviewed Staff Brig. Gen. Ahmed Hisham Khleifat, director of Border Security in the Jordan Armed Forces, to talk about the challenges and missions in securing borders. UNIPATH: What challenges do the border forces face? Brig. Gen. Ahmed: Jordan’s borders face several challenges…
SALTANAT BERDIKEEVA, Unipath Staff In October 2021, Kyrgyzstan bought new military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey to protect its border. The Bayraktar UAV was Kyrgyzstan’s first major investment in military UAVs, commonly known as drones, that fly without pilots or passengers. Only a month later, Kazakhstan acquired the same UAVs for its military in light of growing security threats from Afghanistan. Although drones are not new to Central Asia, the greater integration of UAVs into the armed forces illustrates the benefits of unmanned technology for national security. The drone strikes on oil processing facilities in Saudi Arabia in 2019 have…
UNIPATH STAFF Hybrid warfare — in which the battlefield is vast with no obvious front lines — has become a major focus of military and security professionals. This type of warfare usually concerns terrorist groups supported by countries seeking to cause chaos and instability so they can assert dominance over an area. These terrorists and their backers disregard civilian lives, international charters and the sovereignty of the states among whose populations they hide. Ballistic missiles and drones are launched from areas under the control of these violent extremists. Because terrorists do not hesitate to use weapons of mass destruction against…
The Lebanese Internal Security Forces Directorate thwarted a human trafficking operation focused on smuggling Syrians into the country in December 2021. Authorities arrested 26 Syrians, among an estimated 500,000 living in Lebanon without documentation. In many instances, Syrian traffickers hold their countrymen in bondage to repay the cost of food, shelter and transit to Lebanon. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, the Lebanese government, through Lebanese Security Forces (LSF), is making significant efforts to reduce or eliminate human trafficking. Nevertheless, sealing off the 400-km Lebanon-Syria border to interrupt an illegal trade in fuel, arms, drugs,…
UNIPATH STAFF Serving as a testament to the robust relations binding the two Middle Eastern countries, Qatar has signed 15 memoranda of understanding with Turkey cementing bilateral collaboration in trade, security, military, tourism, education, investment, development, finance, culture, youth, sports events, diplomacy, health care, religious affairs and media. This was the outcome of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s two-day visit to Doha and his meeting with His Highness Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that was organized by the Turkey-Qatar Supreme Strategic Committee. “As Turkey, we are in favor of continuing our cooperation, solidarity and further relations…
UNIPATH STAFF To test the readiness of its forces to meet the growing challenges in the region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched the seven-day joint military exercise Emirates Shield 50 in January 2022. Ground, air, naval and marine forces participated in the exercise designed to test interoperability among the various branches of UAE military. Scenarios were developed to echo real-world potential threats. They required the use of live ammunition and various weapons and equipment: helicopters, fighter jets, missile and assault boats, landing craft, and armored personnel carriers. “We are proud of the country’s achievements in the military field over…