Gulf states conduct naval exercises

The naval forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council states started on Sunday joint maneuvers in the Gulf region.

The director of the public relations department at the Qatari armed forces col. Nasser al-Nueimi said that the warships of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and Oman arrived on Saturday to the Qatari territorial waters and that exercises started on Sunday.

The maneuvers in which taking part are two frigates from each of the six Gulf states are expected to continue until October 15.

A live - ammunition project to confront a presumed naval attack in submarines is expected to be carried out, in the course of these maneuvers which are called " Solidarity."

The Gulf states owns a joint force established in 1986 and known as "al-Jazira Shield." This joint force is composed of 4,000 men and uses Hafer al-Batin base in Saudi Arabia as a headquarters.