22,000 Gulf troops to Kuwait; but will not take part in any war against Iraq
Gulf military units of the "al-Jazeera Shield " will be deployed within the two next days in Kuwait, totaled 22,000 troopers to protect it against any Iraqi attack, despite the Saudi confirmation that these forces "will not take part in any military operation against Iraq."
The Bahraini daily al-Wasat said quoting sources at the Bahraini defense force saying that "the joint forces will head for Kuwait to reserve measures in light of the recent developments taking place in the region." The paper added that " the number of al-Jazeera shield troops which will arrive in Kuwait from the Gulf Cooperation Council ranges between 20,000 to 22,000 troopers of various military specializations," expecting to reach Kuwait within the two coming days.
A high ranking United Arab Emirates UAE official said that the UAE will send mechanical bridges borne by Apache attacke planes and French "Le Claire" tanks, BMB 3 armored vehicles, Naval missiles carriers and one Frigate in the few coming days." He explained that the forces which will include 4,000 troops will be "under the leadership of the state of Kuwait."
Bahraini sources, on the other hand, said that Manama will send its only frigate and an unlimited number of military forces after Eid al-Adha in order to join "al-Jazeera Shield." Last Saturday, the GCC member states agreed to a request demanded by Kuwait to summon "al-Jazeera shield forces" to defend its lands against any Iraqi attack.
On Tuesday, the Saudi daily Okaz quoted the Saudi deputy defense minister prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz as confirming that the Gulf forces "will not take part in any likely military operation against Iraq." He added that the "deployment of these forces in Kuwait, at its request aims at protecting it against any Iraqi attack."
Meantime, the Czech defense minister Yaroslav Tafriditch said that some 60 Slovak soldiers will arrive on March 1st in Kuwait to enhance the Czech unit specialized in the nuclear, biological and chemical protection in the country, where 400 of its troops exist.