Bangkok, Jumada I 17, 1438, February 14, 2017, SPA -- Cobra Gold, the annual military exercise co-hosted by the United States and Thailand, kicked off on Tuesday in the coastal city of Chonburi, dpa reported. First held in 1982, more than two dozen countries now participate in Cobra Gold. It is the largest Asia-Pacific military exercise and is held each year in Thailand. Around 3,600 US army personnel were sent to Chonburi province, 175 kilometres south of Bangkok, and Nakhon Ratchasima province, 260 kilometres north-east of the capital, for the 11-day event. The 36th Cobra Gold war games include an amphibious assault demonstration involving mock military raids by boats and helicopters. --SPA 13:14 LOCAL TIME 10:14 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w332017