Hafr-el-Batin, Jumada I 27, 1437, Mar 7, 2016, SPA -- Spokesman of Coalition Forces, Advisor at Defense Minister's Office, Brigadier Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Asiri said that North Thunder military drill is currently held in Hafr-el-Batin in northern Saudi Arabia; where 20 Arab and Islamic countries are participating in order to ensure the readiness of their armed forces. During a conference held today at the Northern Command at King Khalid Military Base in Hafr-el-Batin, Brigadier Al-Asiri said the military forces participating in the North Thunder drill include Arab, Islamic and friendly countries as well as the Peninsula Shield, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the fields of King Khalid Military City in Hafr-el-Batin. "The drill includes helicopters and fighter jets targeting areas where ground forces engage with terrorist elements, in addition to saving members of the joint forces trapped in hostile areas, and clearing all enemy areas," Al-Asiri added. He stressed the importance of the military exercises in determining the readiness of the forces that aim at deterring all aspects affecting the security of participating countries in addition to fighting terrorist militias and elements in the region. Al-Asiri pointed out that the conference aims at giving a clear picture of the military drill. Brigadier Al-Asiri said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the theater of North Thunder drill, noting that the arrival of troops to the theater of operations needs to organize time, transport, ports and airports. Al-Asiri also said that Dammam, Duba, and Jeddah ports, King Khalid Military City, King Saud Airbase, Riyadh Airport, road networks were used by military forces to reach the theater of operations. --More 22:10 LOCAL TIME 19:10 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w