On October 21, 2024, the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, in collaboration with naval and air forces from Egypt, France, and Cyprus, concluded their participation in the joint military exercise "Medusa 13." Held on the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean, the exercise was designed to enhance military cooperation and preparedness among the participating nations. Rear Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al-Juaid, Commander of the Western Fleet, attended the closing ceremony, underscoring the significance of the event.
"Medusa 13" consisted of a range of military scenarios and training operations, both theoretical and practical. According to Colonel Naval Commander Fahd Al-Humaidi Al-Otaibi, who led the Saudi forces in the exercise, the first phase involved lectures and theoretical training, while the second phase encompassed hands-on operational activities. These activities included military operations, civil-military operations, amphibious assaults, live-fire exercises, civilian evacuations, and the protection of freedom of navigation.
The final day of the exercise saw the execution of various scenarios, such as landing operations and live-fire drills, all aimed at reinforcing the participating forces' capabilities to respond to real-world threats. The Saudi naval forces contributed several specialized units to the exercise, including the Special Naval Security Units, Marine Infantry, and Naval Aviation, all of which demonstrated high levels of professionalism and operational readiness.
Commander Al-Otaibi noted that the exercise successfully achieved its goals, which included strengthening alliances and enhancing security cooperation between the participating nations to improve maritime security. Other objectives were the execution of joint combat missions using modern weaponry, coordination between different units to address non-traditional maritime threats, and the sharing of expertise to secure the operational theater against potential risks.
The successful completion of "Medusa 13" highlighted the importance of continuous training and development, ensuring that the Royal Saudi Naval Forces remain highly capable and ready to collaborate with international partners in securing global maritime operations.
