BDF Commander-in-Chief: Bahrain will take part in Operation Restore Hope in Yemen

Manama, Apr. 22 (BNA)-- BDF Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa has stressed that Bahrain will take part in Operation Restore Hope in Yemen as it participated in Operation Decisive Storm which was declared over yesterday evening. Speaking at a short press conference held today on the sidelines of "Hamad 1" joint drill between BDF and the Egyptian Armed Forces, he stressed that Bahrain is fully satisfied with its participation in the alliance operations alongside brotherly Arab countries. The BDF Commander-in-Chief lauded strong relations and cooperation between Bahrain and Egypt, mainly in the military field. He was speaking in the presence of Egyptian Rear Admiral Ahmed Mohammed Mefrah and Rear Admiral Jamal Mohammed Ibrahim. Concerning "Hamad 1" joint exercise, the BDF Commander-in-Chief described it as a quality leap in military training of both countries' air and naval forces. He also voiced both countries' keenness on continuous cooperation in military training through a long line-up of programmes. He noted that the drill had been planned in advance and had nothing to do with what had been announced concerning the military operation in Yemen. He pointed out that the military exercise was in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sissi. He also emphasised that Egypt had played for many years a major role in preserving Arab national security and is still assuming that responsibility, stressing that cooperation between Bahrain and Egypt is going on unabated. Regarding the future of Arab military cooperation, Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa expressed hope the project of joint Arab military cooperation would succeed and continue in order to face all challenges, pointing out a meeting being held by the Arab Chiefs of Staff in Cairo. He also expressed hope reconciliation and peace would reign in Yemen, adding that the next phase would be a phase of construction, security and stability. He noted that discussions would be held with the Yemenis to reach a political solution. Concerning the possibility of resuming the Operation Decisive Storm in the future should the region be exposed to any threat, the BDF Commander-in-Chief said "that is possible, in a better and stronger way and with a large-scale participation to ward off ambient dangers."