Peninsula Shield Force
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The Peninsula Shield Force[1][2] (or Peninsula Shield[1][2]) (Arabic: دِرْعُ الجَزيرَة) is the military side of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (aka the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC). It is intended to deter, and respond to, military aggression against any of the GCC member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Creation
In 1984 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) decided to create a joint military force of 10,000 soldiers divided into two brigades, called the Peninsula Shield Force, based in Saudi Arabia near the Kuwaiti and Iraqi borders.[1] The PSF is composed of infantry, armor, artillery, and combat support elements from each of the GCC countries.[citation needed] In 1992, the Peninsula Shield Force was headed by a Saudi Arabian, based near King Khalid Military City at Hafar al Batin, and had one infantry brigade of 5,000 men from all the GCC member states.[1] As of late 2006, the Peninsula Shield Force had 7,000 personnel and functioned as a joint intervention force to defend the joint border of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq.[citation needed] In November 2006, the GCC Joint Defense Council considered a Saudi proposal to expand the capabilities of the Shield and to establish a joint command and control system.[citation needed]
In December 2007, Kuwait's National Security Council chief Shaikh Ahmed Fahad Al Ahmed Al Sabah announced that the GCC plans to create a replacement for the Peninsula Shield Force. He stated that "the GCC options would always be unified just as they were when leaders declared the establishment of a common market at the Doha Summit."[2]
Leadership and structure
As of March 2011[update], the Peninsula Shield Force is commanded by Major General Mutlaq Bin Salem al-Azima and has about 40,000 troops[3] and continues to have its permanent base at King Khalid Military City near Hafar al Batin.[3]
According to Peninsula Shield Force commander al-Azima, any intervention by the force must include participation from all GCC member states.[3]
Use of the shield
1990–1991
Peninsula Shield Force did not react militarily to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, exposing the forces deficiencies.[4] It was deemed so ineffective during that build-up, that the General Khalid bin Sultan was forced to disband it and return its elements to their respective national units.[5]
2003
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The force was used in 2003 prior to the invasion of Iraq in late March.[3]
Role in Bahraini uprising
On 14 March 2011, Peninsula Shield forces, requested by the Bahraini government, entered Bahrain via the causeway from Saudi Arabia. Forces were from Saudia Arabia, Kuwait[6] and the UAE. This was the first GCC deployment in relation to an internal threat.[7] In late March, Peninsula Shield Force commander al-Azima stated that the role of the force in Bahrain is to "secure Bahrain's vital and strategically important military infrastructure from any foreign interference" and to protect Bahraini borders while Bahrain security forces are "preoccupied with [Bahraini] internal security".[3] He denied that the force caused any Bahraini citizen to "suffer so much as a scratch", and said that the force entered Bahrain "to bring goodness, peace, and love".[3]
The 2011 Bahraini intervention involves about 10 percent of the Peninsula Shield Forces. Every military unit present in Bahrain includes soldiers from all six GCC member states.[3] In October 2011 the Peninsula Shield announced its intention to sue “a number of satellite TV channels for propagating lies and allegations about the Peninsula Shield forces that entered Bahrain”. This followed persistent claims by these channels about the Gulf forces strafing demonstrators with warplanes and destroying mosques.[8]
Frequent Saudi Arabian street protests in and near Qatif in mid to late March, originally calling for political prisoners to be released, extended to opposition to the Peninsula Shield Force's presence in Bahrain.[9][10][11][12]
See also
- Military of Bahrain
- Military of Kuwait
- Military of Oman
- Military of Qatar
- Military of Saudi Arabia
- Military of the United Arab Emirates
References
- ^ a b c d "Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC]". GlobalSecurity.org. 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b c "Gulf Daily News – Plan to replace Peninsula Shield". International Institute for Strategic Studies/Gulf Daily News. 9 December 2007. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g al-Saeri, Muqbil (2011-03). "A talk with Peninsula Shield force commander Mutlaq Bin Salem al-Azima". Asharq al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Katzman, Kenneth (2004). The Persian Gulf States : post-war issues. New York: Novinka Books. p. 37. ISBN 1-59033-936-3.
- ^ Cordesman, Anthony H. (2005). National security in Saudi Arabia : threats, responses, and challenges. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Security International. p. 138. ISBN 0-275-98811-2.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/167038/reftab/73/Default.aspx
- ^ Bronner, Ethan (14 March 2011). "Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest, page 1". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help), Bronner, Ethan (14 March 2011). "Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest, page 2". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ http://asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=26784
- ^ "Several injured in Saudi Arabia protest". Press TV. 2011-03. Archived from the original on 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Kuwait Navy set for Bahrain – Saudi Shias Rally". Arab Times. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Johnston, Cynthia (21 March 2011). "Saudi Shi'ite protests simmer as Bahrain conflict rages". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Benham, Jason (25 March 2011). "Hundreds of Saudi Shi'ites protest in east". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
External links
- The Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsular Shield Force at Defense Technical Information Center
- GCC to Discuss ‘Peninsula Shield’ Expansion, M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Gulf News, 2 November 2006
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