RIYADH: Falcon Claws 3, a joint exercise involving the Royal Saudi Land Forces and their US counterparts, has begun, the Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday. It is taking place in the northwestern region of the Kingdom. “The exercise aims to strengthen the mutual military relations between the two countries (and) unify military concepts through joint action between the forces of the two sides,” the ministry said. It also provides an opportunity to exchange information and military experience, and improve the compatibility of military equipment and procedures, which will raise the level of readiness and the ability of Saudi forces to work with allies and to prepare to face any external threats, the ministry added. The latest Saudi-US military collaboration follows the two-week Falcon Claws 2 exercise, which took place in December last year. It comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, as Iran-backed militias in Yemen step up their attacks on the Kingdom.