British infantry battalion (F Company, 3 RIFLES) joined the Kuwait Armed Forces’ 94 (Saleh al-Mohammad) Mechanized Brigade Thursday, kicking off a three-week joint military exercise (Iron Shield 2).
Kuwait’s Exercise Director Colonel Faisal Al-Jaber (photo) told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that this cooperation aims to enhance bilateral relations, especially in the military and security fields, in addition to increasing efficiency and readiness for any emergency event, especially at the regional level.
Colonel Al-Jaber said the joint exercise will include operating weapons, specialized joint sniper training, and handling different military vehicles while exchanging expertise in their respective weapon systems. He also noted that both sides will train on the use of drone technology to support ground elements, particularly in maneuvers within and between buildings, as well as the best methods for providing accurate information to the battalion commander to facilitate peacekeeping and internal security operations.
The exercise will also cover training on modern armored vehicles, inspection and precautionary methods for vehicles and personnel, building clearance, counter-terrorism, and crowd control, along with securing personnel during curfews if implemented.
Colonel Al-Jaber said cooperation with the British side is expected to continue regularly, with each exercise focusing on different skills.
In a statement to KUNA, Colonel Neil Marriott, the British Military Attaché in Kuwait, expressed pride in the presence of the British battalion in the exercise and in training partner military forces in the Middle East. “Exercise Iron Shield is a great demonstration of the strong Kuwait-UK defense and security partnership that has now endured for 125 years,” he said, emphasizing that it provides an opportunity to test new competencies and methods to enhance readiness against various shared challenges.
The exercise, he added, represents the UK’s commitment to maintaining security and prosperity in Kuwait and the Gulf region. This is the second Exercise Iron Shield to take place in Kuwait. (Iron Shield 1) was conducted in October 2023 between (Saleh Al-Mohammad) Brigade and the UK’s SCOTS GUARDS.
