Arrival of the first shift of GCC forces in Kuwait

The first shift of the United Arab Emirates UAE forces rallied under the al-Jazeera Shield of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states arrived yesterday in Kuwait to defend against any likely Iraqi attack.

The spokesman for the Kuwaiti ministry of defense Col. Youssef al-Mulla said that "forces from the UAE arrived today ( yesterday) in Ali al-Salem air base to the northern west of the capital Kuwait and that the soldiers were positioned in their sites on the separation area ( border between Iraq and Kuwait) beside their Kuwaiti brothers."

Al-Mulla indicated that the total number of soldiers who will be deployed in Kuwait will reach 3,000. He added that UAE Naval forces will also arrive next Friday. He added it is expected that Bahraini forces and one frigate will arrive within the few coming days.

Al-Mulla indicated the preparedness measures status is at the fourth level in the Kuwaiti army, just one grade short the highest level of preparedness.

On february 8, Kuwait announced that its partners in the GCC agreed to its request to deploy forces on its territories because of the war threats against Iraq.

However, the Saudi deputy defense minister prince Khaled Bin Sultan said that the GCC forces "will not take part in any likely military operation against Iraq."