Egypt, S. Arabia planning major joint military drill

CAIRO, April 15 (KUNA) -- Egypt and Saudi Arabia have agreed on forming a joint military committee to discuss prospects of holding a major joint military drill on Saudi territories, according to an official announcement on Wednesday.
The official statement said the agreement was reached during talks, held late on Tuesday, between Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
A Presidential spokesman said the joint exercise would also involved forces from other GCC countries.
The GCC includes Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The president and the Saudi minister of defense discussed matters related to the "Operation Decisive Storm" targeting the Houthi militia in Yemen.
According to an official statement released late yesterday, President Al-Sisi re-affirmed that "the Arabian Gulf security is a red line for Egypt and is an integral part of its national security, where the security of the region is directly linked to the Egyptian vital interests, particularly in the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab Al-Mandeb." Saudi Arabia is commanding the military operation, aimed at forcing the Houthi militia to withdraw from areas and cities they have recently occupied -- namely the capital Sanaa, and reinstating the legitimate authority of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. (end) asm.rk