KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah affirmed Wednesday the political leadership’s will to develop the capabilities of Kuwait’s armed forces across the board. Sheikh Fahad’s statements were made during a ceremony to take the delivery of two Caracal helicopters at Kuwait International Airport.

The new helicopters are the last batch of 30 aircraft Kuwait had contracted with Airbus Helicopters in August 2016. Twenty-four of the new helicopters will be operated by the Kuwait Armed Forces and six by the Kuwait National Guard.

Also attending the ceremony were Kuwait Army Chief of Staff Air Marshal Bandar Al-Muzain, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense Sheikha Dr Shamayel Al-Sabah, Commander of the Kuwait Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad and several other high-ranking defense ministry officials.

Meanwhile, Interior Ministry Undersecretary and Commander of the Coordinating Command for Internal Security Protection Lt Gen Sheikh Salem Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah emphasized on Thursday the need to achieve interaction and integration in task execution and full readiness to protect internal security. This was stated in a press release following Sheikh Salem Nawaf’s inspection tour at the Coordinating Command Center for Internal Security Protection, the General Department of Civil Defense and the Traffic Operations Center.

During the tour, Sheikh Salem conveyed the greetings of Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef to the center’s affiliates, urging them to coordinate with various military sectors including the army, the National Guard and Kuwait Fire Force through regular meetings.

Sheikh Salem reviewed the readiness and necessary preparations to deal with emergencies at the Coordinating Command Center for Internal Security Protection and monitored the field coordination mechanism and linkage between military entities in performing joint tasks to achieve security and safety.

He also watched a visual presentation on risk management and listened to an explanation of potential annual scenarios that will be dealt with, in addition to inspecting the Operations Center at the General Department of Civil Defense where he reviewed the safety of the special equipment for performing civil defense tasks and rapid response to control accidents and natural disasters efficiently. – KUNA