The Council of Ministers on Monday emphasized the high level of combat readiness displayed by the Kingdom’s armed forces during a recent exercise in Hafr Al-Baten with the participation of forces from the eastern, northern and southern regions.

“We are proud of the progress achieved by our armed forces, supported by modern technology, advanced training and modern military know-how,” said the Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.

The Cabinet made this comment while reviewing the military exercise in Hafr Al-Baten, the largest in the Kingdom’s history. It reiterated the armed forces’ role in protecting the Kingdom’s achievements and holy places, while safeguarding its territorial unity.

Crown Prince Salman attended the closing ceremony of the exercise entitled “Saif of Abdullah.” It reflects the care and support given by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, supreme commander of the armed forces, and Crown Prince Salman for the Kingdom’s army, it added.

The Cabinet thanked the king for opening the SR2 billion King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah and officiating the finals of the King’s Cup. “This embodies the king’s care for youth and sportsmen, as well as his encouragement to the Saudi cadre on implementing this giant project while adhering to world-class standards,” said Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja following the meeting.

Referring to the “Friends of Yemen” meeting in London, the Cabinet reiterated its support for Yemen to complete the terms of the Gulf initiative and achieve security and political stability. The Cabinet expressed its condolences to the Afghan government and people on the deaths caused by a massive landslide in Badakhshan.

Khoja said the Cabinet approved the administrative restructuring of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. It also approved a uniform GCC mining law and GCC tariff regulations related to the value of goods seized from smugglers.

It appointed Hussein bin Nasser Alsharif undersecretary for Haj at the Ministry of Haj; Mohammed bin Suleiman Alturaif assistant to the president of Saudi Wildlife Authority; and Riad bin Mousa Khalifa assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Health.