RIYADH, 29 January, 2021 (TON): The Saudi Ministry of Defense said that a joint naval exercise involving the Royal Saudi Navy, U.S. Navy, and British minesweepers in the Arabian Gulf came to end on Thursday.

The director of exercise, Brig. General Awad Al-Enezi said participating vessels executed a number of marine formations, as well as boarding and searching ships, floating mines and reconnaissance operations, port training and defense, drone operations and shooting air and surface enemy targets with live ammunition.

The Naval Defender 21 exercise began last week at King Abdul Aziz Naval Base, the headquarters of the Eastern Fleet in the city of Jubail in the Eastern Province.

For the professionalism and high readiness, Brig. Gen. Al-Enezi praised and appreciated the participants saying they emerged with “many positive results that reflect the importance of continuous training.”

There were a number of ships, infantry, special maritime security units and naval aviation forces training in several maritime scenarios that took part in the mixed naval exercise.

Saudi armed forces conduct the Naval Defender 21 as part of the joint military exercises throughout the year with friendly countries, to hone the expeditionary skill set, and elevate the overall readiness as a unit, and gaining more field experience.