The International Security Alliance’s First Joint Exercise, ISALEX19, hosted by the UAE Ministry of Interior, MoI, kicked-off in Abu Dhabi Sunday, Emirates News Agency WAM reported.
The exercise witnessed the participation of 50 representatives from law enforcement agencies from the International Security Alliance, ISA, countries including members of tactical teams; swift intervention units; and media, communications, civil defense and Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, teams.
Described as a realistic experience that is one of its kind in the world, the ISLAEX19 is based on unexpected scenarios where the teams of the ISA countries will operate according to different security theories and strategies in order to test the readiness of the international teams in facing security threats. The exercise also aims to assess the tools, strategies and procedures developed by the ISA countries since the launch of the Alliance in 2017.
The first day exercises began with a sudden TV announcement of a security threat in a virtual country. As per the set scenario, participants received reports about a group targeting this virtual country with several attacks. Participants from specialized teams were deployed to chambers dedicated to the training field as per their specialties including security analysis and tactics, risk management and operations, amidst simulated attacks and threats.
Specialized task forces communicated the information and news compiled about the attacks to field commanders to enable the proper decision-making. Response to the threats was carried out based on the security scenarios that have been adopted during the International Security Alliance’s workshops, which provided proper training to ensure a joint participatory action to achieve the desired goals and promote prompt response and preparedness to such security events.
Teams worked in perfect harmony in the Operations Room set up for this exercise, to come up with the most appropriate security practices to respond to the security threat according to plans.
Furthermore, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Monday the participating delegation in ISALEX19, at Al Bahr Palace.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the member countries and stressed the importance of the UAE in hosting such initiatives, aimed at enhancing work and coordination with partners to address various security challenges and cement security, stability and welfare pillars globally.
He further emphasized the need to work collectively to face the growing security threats at the various regional and international levels and to intensify joint action to confront these crimes.
The ISA, which was launched in Abu Dhabi in 2017, is an international working group to confront organized, transnational and extremist crimes through joint security cooperation projects and the exchange of expertise on the practices implemented across these countries.
The alliance now comprises nine countries, the UAE, France, Italy, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Senegal, Singapore, and Slovakia.
Among those who attended the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain Region; H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan; H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Tolerance, and a number of Sheikhs and officials.
Lastly, teams taking part in the ISALEX19 visited Wahat Al Karama, Abu Dhabi’s national and cultural landmark designed to commemorate the sacrifices of UAE martyrs. They also visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, SZGM, in Abu Dhabi.
