![\"iran-iraq-map\"](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/08\/iran-iraq-map.jpg\" "\\"iran-iraq-map\\"")
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Persian Gulf states are launching a joint military command, based in Saudi Arabia, to counter threats from the Iranian regime and extremist groups, Bahrain\u2019s foreign minister says.<\/p>\n
Sheikh Khalid al-Khalifa told the Financial Times that the joint command force, which analysts say will eventually have several hundred thousand soldiers under its control, will begin military operations after a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, due to take place later this month in Qatar.<\/p>\n
The new command will co-ordinate with the GCC\u2019s naval command based in Bahrain and its air command in Saudi Arabia, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at the fragmentation in Iraq and the abominable situation in Syria,\u201d Sheikh Khalid told the Financial Times in an interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Afghanistan was a primary school for terrorists, then Syria and Iraq are a university for them \u2013 these are serious threats and lots of people from our country have gone and joined them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Theodore Karasik, Senior Advisor to Risk Insurance Management in Dubai, said the GCC is trying to establish a \u201crobust, interoperable joint operations force\u201d focusing on defensive operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe force is to be several hundred thousand strong with Saudi Arabia contributing at least 100,000 personnel,\u201d he said. Components of the joint force may be used in special offensive operations against \u201cnimble extremist forces\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n
Sheikh Khalid, a member of the Bahraini royal family, said the new military body, first mooted two years ago, would start \u201cworking from now\u201d to co-ordinate against what he said was a growing threat from Iran and unrest in Yemen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Persian Gulf states are launching a joint military command, based in Saudi Arabia, to counter threats from the Iranian regime and extremist groups, Bahrain’s foreign minister says. Sheikh Khalid al-Khalifa […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[175],"class_list":{"0":"post-17615","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-iran-a-world","8":"tag-updated"},"yoast_head":"\n