UAE and US troops to be deployed in Native Fury military exercise

Thousands of marines, sailors and high-ranking officers will take part in the training operation

Members of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces perform military drills during the "Union Fortress 6" military parade in Al Hamra, Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates November 1, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike
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A huge military exercise involving live fire training will take place in the Emirati desert next month.

Thousands of marines, sailors and high-ranking officers from the US and UAE military will be involved in Native Fury on March 8.

The operation will ensure combat personnel are prepared if they find themselves in a live conflict.

The teams will also exchange skills and knowledge related to humanitarian missions, including how to move aid into areas hit by natural disasters.

The drill tests take place twice a year and Native Fury is the seventh exercise.

Units from I Marine Expeditionary Force, the marine air ground task force of the US, will lead a variety of different challenges to accomplish several training objectives.

Live fire activities will be carried out as well as well as ship-to-shore offloads of personnel, equipment and humanitarian resources.

Speaking ahead of the training mission, Lieutenant General Carl Mundy III, commander of the US Marine Corps Forces said such training exercises are the foundation for any military body.

“This exercise is a great opportunity for both countries to demonstrate military readiness and a strong commitment to stability in the Gulf,” he said.

“We are honoured to train alongside the UAE, a strategic partner of the United States in this region.”

Late last year, a smaller UAE-US operation called ‘Iron Union’ took place deep in the Abu Dhabi desert.

It culminated with a live-fire exercise, with US mortars and Bradley fighting vehicles lined up alongside Emirati armed reconnaissance units unleashing thousands of rounds at far away targets.

Members of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces perform military drills during the "Union Fortress 6" military parade in Al Hamra, Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates November 1, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike
UAE troops will be deployed alongside American marines. Christopher Pike / Reuters