Bahrain: Naval exercise with Pakistan

The Bahrain National Guard Special Operation Unit in early January conducted a joint exercise focused on maritime counterterrorism and interdiction operations, with Pakistan’s Special Services Group-Navy (SSG-N). Bahrain National Guard commander Lieutenant General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Al-Khalifa was among the top brass who oversaw the so-called Shaheen Al-Jazeera exercise’s final stage; he highlighted the two countries’ growing – now “model” – military security relationship. The Shaheen Al-Jazeera series of special forces exercises have been regularly conducted since 1997 between SSG-N and the Bahrain Navy’s special forces.