LONDON: The Royal Saudi Land Forces have completed preparations for a joint exercise with US ground forces, the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday. The Falcon Claws 3 exercise will begin next week in the Kingdom’s northwestern region. The exercise “comes as an extension of the joint exercises between the two friendly countries with the aim of strengthening the harmony of joint military work and cooperation between them,” the ministry said. It also aims to exchange expertise and concepts, and raise combat readiness to face regional challenges, the ministry added. The Saudi and US ground forces carried out the two-week Falcon Claws 2 exercise in December last year. The exercise comes at a heightened time in the region, with Iran-backed militias stepping up attacks on Saudi Arabia.