A spokesman for the Saudi Defense Ministry said that “North Thunder” - a military exercise which kicked off in the Kingdom mid February - promoted the exchange of military expertise between the 21 participating countries.

Speaking at a press conference in Hafr Al-Batin where the drill is taking place, Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri (photo) explained that 20 Arab and Islamic countries were taking part in a number of tasks, including exercises aimed at encouraging cooperation between the various forces.

He added that the training also included exercises on how to combat guerrilla warfare, noting that the tactic is used by armed militias intervening in Arab states, such as Syria and Yemen. He said the military exercise would end on Thursday.

Asiri said the alliance brought together Arab and Islamic forces to gain experience towards being prepared to protect the region’s stability if needed.

The countries joining Saudi Arabia in the operation are the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Senegal, Sudan, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Chad, Tunisia, Comoros, Djibouti, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, Egypt, Mauritania and Mauritius, in addition to the Peninsula Shield forces.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported this exercise as the “largest and most important military man oeuvre in the history of the region” using qualitative military equipment of diverse sophisticated weapons.

“The North Thunder drills represent a clear message that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its brothers and friends of the participating countries stand united to confront all challenges and maintain peace and stability in the region,” SPA said.

The move comes just months after Saudi Arabia formed an anti-terrorist coalition of 34 mainly Muslim nations. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the alliance had been formed to “push back and confront the terrorists and those who promote their violent ideologies,” which promises to fight any terrorist organization, not simply ISIS.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif traveled to Saudi Arabia on March 9 to witness the ongoing North Thunder military exercises.

The three-day visit was undertaken by invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, a Foreign Office statement said.

Along with the Prime Minister, a number of Heads of State have also been invited to witness the exercise and its closing ceremony.