Bright Star military exercise between Egypt, US continues

By Sarah Saad

Bright Star 2023, a joint military exercise that involves 8,000 troops from 34 countries, is still continuing at the Mohammed Naguib Military Base in Egypt with the participation of a number of police elements and legal experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The exercise, which started on August 31 and lasts until September 14, aims to enhance military cooperation and combat common threats and risks, according to an army statement.

Bright Star is one of the largest and oldest joint military exercises in the world, dating back to October 1980. It is held in Egypt every two years with the participation of the United States and other countries.

The exercise, according to MENA, provides an opportunity for the participating nations to exchange expertise and learn about the latest weapons and military equipment. It also covers various scenarios of conventional and irregular warfare, including security and counter-terrorism operations.

The exercise involves ground forces, infantry, armored vehicles, artillery units, navy, air force, and special operations forces from the Egyptian and US sides, as well as other countries. The Thunderbolt and Paratroopers units also take part in the exercise.