KUWAIT CITY, Feb 18: The Assistant Undersecretary for Private Security Affairs at the Ministry of Interior Major General Abdullah Saffah affirmed the support of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior (acting) Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Lieutenant General Salem Al-Nawaf, for the International Elite Assault Team Competition, which is being held for the first time in Kuwait with the participation of 15 Arab and foreign countries.

In a press statement issued while attending the competitions at the Special Forces building in Sulaibiya yesterday morning, Major General Saffah announced that the Kuwaiti team won first place in the anti-terrorism competition in storming the airplane. The Russian team won second place despite their professionalism in the field of storming. He affirmed that the results of the participating Kuwaiti teams were excellent, indicating that the Kuwaiti team participated with two Special Forces teams and two National Guard teams. Major General Saffah said, “The conclusion of the activities and coronation will be held on Thursday under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior (acting) Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef.”

Meanwhile, Head of the committee supervising the International Elite Assault Teams Competition Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Tabeekh affirmed that the Elite Teams competitions are military, not sports, and are specialized in the S.W.A.T. Teams. Highlighting the participation of 15 Arab and foreign countries, he explained that the competition is honorable, strong, global, and tactical. It is aimed to exchange information and experiences between the Kuwaiti storming teams and the teams from Arab and foreign countries, as well as to gain experience. The Kuwaiti team affiliated with the Ministry of Interior came out on top in the plane storming competition. The names of the competitions, such as “Hijacking of the Jabriya Plane”, “Umm al- Hayman Operation”, “Maidan Hawally Operation”, “Salmiya Operation”, “Saad Al-Abdullah Operation”, and “Operation 2/8” were chosen to commemorate the martyrs through these operations and their heroic role.

In addition, members of the Kuwaiti teams participating in the International Elite Assault Team Competition affirmed that the enthusiasm is high and the competition is strong among the participants. They stressed that they would win first place in all competitions due to their great experience, high competence, and the professionalism that they enjoy. Despite the presence of about 15 Gulf, Arab, and foreign countries and about 19 teams, the organization of the competition appeared in the most amazing and distinguished manner under the supervision of the Assistant Undersecretary for Private Security Affairs Major General Abdullah Saffah, the Chairman of the organizing committee Colonel Abdul Aziz Al-Tabeekh, and the Chairman of the Information Committee Major Abdul Aziz Al-Mawash.

By Munaif Nayef
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff