Iraq navy holds large-scale drill at Umm Qasr port

UMM QASR — Iraq’s Naval Forces Command on Monday conducted a large-scale tactical exercise dubbed “Naval Shield” at Umm Qasr port, involving divers, naval commandos and marines, as part of plans to boost combat readiness and protect key maritime facilities.

In a statement, the Defense Ministry said the exercise was carried out “in the presence of the assistant chief of staff of the army for training,” describing it as “a single-side tactical exercise at the level of a task force to liberate Hajjam Island.”

The ministry said the drill falls within prepared training plans “to raise the level of combat readiness of the naval force,” adding that “all units of the Naval Forces Command participated, within the scope of two naval brigades, in addition to a marine infantry company, a frogmen company and divers.”

The exercise was designed to replicate operational conditions. It was conducted “in a manner that simulates maritime battle conditions and potential threats,” the statement said.

According to the ministry, the drill aims to “train commanders and officers on the course of the naval battle and the mechanism of issuing orders using the sand table,” contributing to “raising the efficiency of personnel working on naval vessels, as well as marine infantry elements tasked with protecting oil and commercial ports and vital maritime facilities.”

The statement added that “Naval Shield” is part of a series of exercises carried out by the Naval Forces Command “to enhance maritime security, raise the level of coordination and information exchange between units, and enable them to confront any threat or terrorist act targeting vital maritime facilities.”