UNIPATH STAFF Its vast coastline and location near the economically vital Strait of Hormuz convinced the Sultanate of Oman of the need for maritime security. So in August 2013, Oman hosted officials from Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) counterpiracy arm, the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151). This international maritime coalition, commanded by Pakistan during the Oman visit, is dedicated to countering piracy to ensure free navigation in the Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin and Arabian Sea. The goal of the meetings was to improve cooperation and coordination among militaries involved in the counterpiracy fight. While not a formal member of…
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UNIPATH STAFF Before 1997, the only special operations force in Lebanon was the Commando Regiment. During the reconstruction of the Lebanese Army, military commanders decided a maritime-focused special operations unit was critically needed. Today, the Lebanese Marine Commandos, also known as Navy SEALs, are an elite and highly trained organization versed in counterterrorism, advanced combat, close-quarter battle tactics, combat diving and underwater demolition. Their mission is to protect the country’s 225-kilometer coastline. Sources: Special Warfare magazine, www.shadowspear.com
REUTERS Saudi Arabia has created a new ministry to strengthen the National Guard’s role in the kingdom. In May 2013, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud named his son, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to head the National Guard Ministry. “With this ministry, Miteb will have a stronger role to play. It gives the National Guard more authority, better structure and a larger institutional budget,” said Abdulaziz al-Sager, head of the Gulf Research Center in Jeddah. The ministry was formed from the existing presidency of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, based in Riyadh. Beside its military duties,…
UNIPATH STAFF In a move that could help build stability in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is preparing to expand the capacity of its Aktau seaport. Enlarging the port will initially help support the International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan’s drawdown, but could later serve as a transit hub on the New Silk Road, an effort to create trading links between Central Asia, Afghanistan and other regional partners. At a meeting with the Heart of Eurasia group in April 2013, President Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke about increasing the port’s transit capacity on the Caspian Sea. It is part of his country’s continuing effort to support…
UNIPATH STAFF Bahraini officials seized a boat attempting to smuggle explosives into the country in December 2013. The 9-meter-long vessel was stopped about 3.7 kilometers from Bahrain’s coast after authorities had tracked it for nearly 219 kilometers in the Arabian Gulf northeast of the country, public security chief Maj. Gen. Tareq al-Hasan said. Dozens of C-4 and TNT explosive devices were found on the boat, along with about 50 hand grenades and almost 300 detonators labeled “Made in Syria.” About the same time, security forces also uncovered a cache of explosives outside Manama, dismantled a car bomb and arrested 13…
ЙЕМЕНСКИЕ ВООРУЖЕННЫЕ СИЛЫ Йеменские вооруженные силы продолжают одерживать победы в борьбе за прекращение международной контрабанды оружия, захватив недавно судно, перевозившее оружие, предназначенное для внутренней части страны, было объявлено Верховным комитетом по безопасности в июле 2013 г. Судно было перехвачено при входе в территориальные воды Йемена возле острова Зокар в Красном море. Захваченное оружие предназначалось для внутренней части Йемена после разгрузки на острове в архипелаге Хуниш. Если бы судно не было перехвачено, оружие было бы перевезено на маленьких лодках на йеменский берег. Представители комитета по безопасности выразили признательность йеменско-турецкому сотрудничеству в области безопасности, приведшему к захвату судна. За последние два года…
Страны демонстрируют растущую решимость объединять усилия для борьбы с наркотиками, сказал Кувейтский полковник Мохаммад Аль-Хазим, руководитель операций в Управлении по контролю над наркотиками Министерства внутренних дел Кувейта. Аль-Хазим говорил в кулуарах девятого международного Форума по вопросам наркотиков, проходившем в июне 2013 в Дубае, Объединенные Арабские Эмираты. Это мероприятие было организовано Дубайской полицией. Аль-Хазим сказал, что Кувейтское министерство внутренних дел стремится принимать участие в таких мероприятиях, подчеркнув, что этот форумявляется важным местом встречи для международных организаций, возглавляющих борьбу с наркотиками. Участвующие организации включали региональный офис ООН по наркотикам и преступности и субрегиональный офис UNODC для Совета по сотрудничеству стран Персидского залива…
Pakistani youth leader Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi has a plan to counter the relentless message of violence spewed by extremists in his country — and he is stealing a gimmick from the enemy’s own playbook to do it. His weapon: the three-wheeled motorized rickshaws that buzz along Pakistan’s streets. Extremists have long used the vehicles as a canvas for slogans that foster hatred. Zaidi is turning that strategy on its head with a fleet of rickshaws emblazoned with peace slogans and decorated with colorful designs similar to those found on many trucks and buses in the country. Zaidi chose to…
UNIPATH STAFF A driving wind was already kicking up the powdery clay dust off the desert floor when the two shells landed with a thud. As the acrid smoke streamed into the displaced persons camp, dozens of men emerged from tents clutching throats and chests. For the throng of refugees, it was their worst fear realized: a sarin nerve gas attack committed by the very same regime they had recently fled. In a blare of sirens, emergency response teams arrived before the smoke had cleared. Within 20 minutes, the casualties were categorized, decontaminated, diagnosed and ushered into a surgical tent,…
UNIPATH STAFF Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sharpened their counterterrorism and convoy-protection skills at sea during the 10th iteration of the joint biannual Naseem Al-Bahr naval exercises. Held off the coast of Pakistan in the Arabian Sea from January 12 to 22, 2013, the maritime warfare exercise also focused on mine countermeasures and special forces operations, as well as sharing resources to fight piracy, arms smuggling and human trafficking. Members of the Saudi Navy, Marines, Special Operations Forces and bomb disposal teams participated along with their counterparts from the Pakistan Navy’s Special Services Group, Maritime Special Warfare Group, SEALs and Special…