The joint Saudi-Sudanese Maritime Exercise “AlFulk 2” continues its activities in the Western Fleet between Royal Saudi Naval Forces and Sudanese Naval Forces within the framework of carrying out joint exercises between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The exercise included storming and inspecting a ship to make sure that it did not smuggle weapons and landing on one of the islands carried out by speedboats with the participation of Royal Saudi Navy aircraft.

In February 2013, the Navies of Sudan and Saudi Arabia have launched their first joint military exercises in the Red Sea, the official Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) reported then.

The first exercise focused on anti-smuggling operations and “boosting security and stability”, SUNA quoted Sudan’s military spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Sa’ad as saying.

Two Saudi naval vessels and troops participated in this joint drill, he said.

The first exercise came after warships from Iran, with which Saudi Arabia has tense relations, docked at Port Sudan in October and December 2012.

At the time, Sa’ad described the Iranian port calls as part of normal military exchanges between the two states.

Israeli officials have expressed concern about arms smuggling through Sudan, and the visits by Tehran’s Navy came after Khartoum accused the Jewish state of an October 23, 2012 air strike against a military factory in the capital.

The incident led to speculation that Iranian weapons were stored or manufactured there.

Israel refused all comment on Sudan’s accusation about the factory blast, while Sudan’s Foreign Ministry denied Iran had any involvement in the plant.