Qatar, Turkey hold joint military drills

ANKARA

Qatar and Turkey held joint military exercises from March 14 to March 22, said Qatar’s Defense Ministry.

In a written statement, the ministry said the two countries’ joint military exercises were dubbed “Lion’s Den.”

In 2017, Turkey adopted a law on the ratification of the agreement between Turkey and Qatar on the deployment of a Turkish military contingent in Qatar.

The military agreement between Qatar and Turkey came into force on June 9, 2017. The corresponding document was signed in Ankara on Nov. 10, 2016.

The Qatari Interior Ministry, Emirates Guards, State Security Organization and all armed forces and Turkish military forces joined the military drill.

The ministry also stated that the aim of drill was activating command and air defense systems, to manage operations, to plan joint operations, to strengthen cooperation and planning between military forces, to fight against psychological warfare and to activate the role of the press.

“The drill is an extension of the annual action plan implemented by the Qatar Armed Forces,” said Brigadier General Qasem Ahmad al-Mohannadi, the director of the drill, in the statement.

In 2017, Turkey adopted a law on the ratification of the agreement between Turkey and Qatar on the deployment of a Turkish military contingent in Qatar.

The military agreement between Qatar and Turkey came into force on June 9, 2017. The corresponding document was signed in Ankara on Nov. 10, 2016.