Within the framework of Moroccan-American cooperation in the field of disaster management, a summary exercise took place on Sunday at the military port of Agadir, with a view to evaluating the responsiveness of the Relief and Rescue Unit of Royal Armed Forces (USS-FAR) faced with an attack by suicide drones presenting a crisis situation linked to chemical risks.
According to Lieutenant Hossam El Khazi, deputy commander of the USS of the FAR, the scenario of this exercise consists in facing an attack using two unmanned suicide drones containing an explosive device that targeted a warehouse of chemical materials.
As part of the combined Moroccan-American exercise “African Lion 2023” which is being held in accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty the King, Supreme Leader and Chief of the General Staff of the FAR, this exercise also envisages the discovery of improvised explosive devices which caused an explosion and injured dozens of people, he said.
During this simulation exercise, the FAR USS Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Disposal team carried out a preliminary reconnaissance using robots and sophisticated equipment to locate the improvised explosive devices safely and with accuracy.
Then, it was proceeded to the neutralization of the suicide drones, the evaluation of the risks, and the triage and the grouping of the victims.
An EOD team was also deployed to carry out search operations, in addition to the detection of the disaster site and the emergency decontamination of elements of the explosive ordnance disposal team following the presence of products chemicals.
The USS of the FAR also proceeded to the neutralization and destruction of improvised explosive devices, as well as the taking of chemical samples before providing care to the victims and opening a criminal investigation.
For his part, the representative of the American Defense Agency for Threat Reduction (DTRA), Kelly Veenden, said he was happy to take part in this exercise which is part of the strengthening of the partnership and the centuries-old joint cooperation between the US Armed Forces and the FAR.
This summary exercise aims in particular to assess the responsiveness capabilities of the FAR USS in the face of an NRBC attack, in close cooperation with American stakeholders in the field of Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, Chemical and Explosive (NRBCE) response.
On the sidelines of this exercise, a guided visit was organized for the benefit of media representatives to the multi-mission Frigate “Tarik Ibn Ziyad” of the Royal Navy as well as a Frigate of the United States Marine Corps Forces.
“African Lion” is a combined joint exercise organized each year by the FAR and the American Armed Forces.
This exercise, which will continue until June 16, in seven regions of Morocco, namely: Agadir, Tan-Tan, Mehbes, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir and Tifnit, remains an annual meeting which contributes to consolidating Moroccan military cooperation. and also to strengthen the exchange between the armed forces of different countries in order to promote security and stability in the region.