Exercise North Thunder

{{operational plan

| name = North Thunder

| partof =

| image =North maneuvers logo.jpg

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| type =Military exercises

| location = Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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| target = Raise the technical and combat efficiency
combat readiness to carry out joint missions between the participating States forces rates

| date = February–March 2016

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| executed_by = {{Collapsible list

| title = 21 Countries

|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}

|{{flag|Bahrain}}

|{{flag|Chad}}

|{{flag|Comoros}}

|{{flag|Djibouti}}

|{{flag|Egypt}}

|{{flag|Jordan}}

|{{flag|Kuwait}}

|{{flag|Malaysia}}

|{{flag|Maldives}}

|{{flag|Mauritania}}

|{{flag|Morocco}}

|{{flag|Oman}}

|{{flag|Pakistan}}

|{{flag|Qatar}}

|{{flag|Senegal}}

|{{flag|Sudan}}

|{{flag|Tunisia}}

|{{flag|Turkey}}

|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}

|{{flag|Yemen}}}}

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North Thunder (or in Arabic: رعد الشمال Raʿad aš-Šamāl / Raad al-Shamal) was a joint military exercise held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the participation of 20 Arab and Islamic countries; notably the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Sudan, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, Chad, Maldives, Comoros, Tunisia, Oman, Malaysia and Yemen in February–March 2016.{{cite web |last=Toumi |first=Habib |date=15 February 2016 |title=Northern Thunder military exercises begin in Saudi Arabia |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/northern-thunder-military-exercises-begin-in-saudi-arabia-1.1673122 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215224028/http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/northern-thunder-military-exercises-begin-in-saudi-arabia-1.1673122 |archive-date=15 February 2016 |accessdate=3 March 2017 |website=Gulf News}}{{Cite news |last=Eleftheriou-Smith |first=Loulla-Mae |date=15 February 2016 |title=Saudi Arabia launches 'North Thunder' military drill with troops from 20 nations |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-launches-north-thunder-military-drill-with-troops-from-20-nations-a6874771.html}}

Purpose

The exercise aimed to raise the technical and combat efficiency of the units involved and improve logistics and readiness rates for the implementation of joint security and stability missions in the region, notably Syria.{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/878206|title=Planned 'North Thunder' a clear message to Tehran|publisher=Arabnews|date=14 February 2016}} A spokesman for the Arab coalition forces, Ahmad Assiri, said the aim of the exercise is to achieve the highest level of preparedness, exchange expertise and promote coordination among the 21 participating countries.{{cite web |last=Al-Sughair |first=Sultan |date=17 February 2016 |title='North Thunder' sends a message of unity, power |url=http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/881886 |publisher=Arabnews}}

It has also been suggested, considering the forces involved, that the exercise could be the beginning of a land assault on Syria in conjunction with the Turkish Land Forces invading Syria from the north. On 13 February The Independent reported that Saudi troops and fighter aircraft were deploying to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in preparation for intervention in Syria;{{cite web |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |date=13 February 2016 |title=Saudi Arabia sends troops and fighter jets to military base in Turkey ahead of intervention against Isis in Syria |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-sends-troops-and-fighter-jets-to-military-base-in-turkey-ahead-of-intervention-against-a6871611.html |work=The Independent}} however, this could simply indicate a Saudi recommitment to the military intervention against ISIL which was downgraded following the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.{{cite web |last=Henderson |first=Simon |date=16 February 2016 |title=Desert Stretch: Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Military Operations |url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/desert-stretch-saudi-arabias-ambitious-military-operations |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy}} Possible direct involvement in the war in Syria has unsettled many Saudis as the war in Yemen appears to be a stalemate and the Saudi economy has been affected by low oil prices.{{cite news |last=Naylor |first=Hugh |date=22 February 2016 |title=Concerns in Saudi Arabia over signs of more military involvement in Syria |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/concerns-in-saudi-arabia-over-signs-of-more-military-involvement-in-syria/2016/02/21/76ef6008-d588-11e5-b195-2e29a4e13425_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223220525/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/concerns-in-saudi-arabia-over-signs-of-more-military-involvement-in-syria/2016/02/21/76ef6008-d588-11e5-b195-2e29a4e13425_story.html |archive-date=23 February 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Resources involved

According to unofficial sources, around 350,000 soldiers, 2,540 warplanes, 20,000 tanks, and 460 helicopters will participate in the largest military exercise in the history of the region.{{cite web |last=McDowall |first=Angus |date=22 February 2016 |editor-last=Jones |editor-first=Gareth |title=Saudi Arabia says war games will boost military ties with Muslim allies |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security-idUSKCN0VV1D7 |publisher=Reuters}}{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Armin |date=18 February 2016 |title=A nervous Saudi Arabia just launched a massive military exercise |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia-just-launched-a-massive-military-exercise-2016-2 |publisher=Business Insider}} Jane's Defence Weekly noted that based on official media releases the exercise appeared smaller than Bright Star 2000, which was held in Egypt in 1999 and involved around 73,000 troops from 11 countries.{{cite web |last=Binnie |first=Jeremy |date=25 February 2016 |title=Saudi 'Raad al-Shamal' exercise looks smaller than billed |url=http://www.janes.com/article/58346/saudi-raad-al-shamal-exercise-looks-smaller-than-billed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226124953/http://www.janes.com/article/58346/saudi-raad-al-shamal-exercise-looks-smaller-than-billed |archive-date=26 February 2016 |publisher=Janes's Defense Weekly}}

Manoeuvres executed

The exercise commenced on 14 February 2016 and concluded on 10 March near King Khaled Military City in northeastern Saudi Arabia, with the participation of various military disciplines of artillery, tanks, and infantry, and air defense systems, naval forces.{{cite web |last=Karimi |first=Faith |date=15 February 2016 |title=Saudi Arabia launches military exercise with 20 nations |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/15/middleeast/saudi-arabia-military-exercises/ |publisher=CNN}}{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/03/10/Saudi-Arabia-concludes-North-Thunder-exercises-.html|title=Saudi Arabia concludes North Thunder exercises|publisher=Al Arabiya English|date=10 March 2016}}