Riyadh, Rajab 01, 1439, March 18, 2018, SPA -- The Gulf Shield 1 Joint drills, organized by the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are kicked off in the Eastern Region today in participation of military forces from 23 brotherly and friendly countries as well as the Saudi forces. The drill is scheduled to last for one month. The drill, which is considered the largest military drill in the region in terms of diversity of expertise and quality of weapons, aims at raising the military readiness of the participating countries, modernizing the joint mechanisms and enhancing coordination and cooperation. The Gulf Shield 1 drill is a turning point in terms of the techniques used in accordance with the most modern military systems in the world. --SPA 19:15 LOCAL TIME 16:15 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w644619