Iraqi, Iranian Common Naval Exercises in Shatt al-Arab and The Arabian Gulf

Basra / NINA / The leadership of the Iraqi Navy and Iran's coast borders have carried out common nautical exercise in the Gulf and Shatt al-Arab by the participation of three barges for the purpose of security control of the border between the two sides, prevent the infiltration of terrorists and drug dealers and smugglers, sea piracy and the exchange of intelligence information and protect ships and raise the combat capability of the security forces. The commander of the border guards in Iraq, Brigadier General Hamid Abdullah al-Husseini said at a joint news conference during the maneuvers, which were attended by the commander of Basra operations, military commanders and civil officials that joint exercises in naval maneuvers by forces from the coast guard of the two countries on the rescue and counter maritime piracy and smuggling of goods, drugs and protect merchant ships and raise the combat capability of the security forces. He stressed the importance of such exercises to gain more field experience and the ability to plan operations and cooperation between the two countries. He pointed to the need to increase cooperation between the two sides in order to ensure border security and to establish a sustainable stability in the region. For his part, the commander of the Iranian Border Guard Brigadier General Qasem Rezaei said the aim of conducting such exercises is to raise the Iraqi and Iranian capabilities in the fight against smuggling and maritime piracy. He added that these kind of maneuvers sends a message of peace to the neighboring states of the two countries, noting that the joint exercises are part of the common interests of Iran and Iraq and increase trade and dealing exchanges between them. / End