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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - King Abdullah II, the supreme commander of the armed forces, on Tuesday opened the 10th Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX 2014) which is showcasing up-to-date technology in defence and national security operations industries.

Upon his arrival at the exhibition's site for the opening ceremony, the King was welcomed by chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Lt. Gen. Mishal Al Zaben, and His Royal Highness Prince Faisal, president of the SOFEX steering committee. A guard of honor also greeted His Majesty as a brass band played the national anthem.

The biennial exhibition, which this year marks its 20th anniversary, has been classified as the first global special operations and national security fair and the first of its kind in the region.

It drew some 371 defense companies from 35 Arab and world countries to demonstrate their latest high-tech military industry equipment as well as innovations and training and organisational techniques related to security agencies and peacekeeping forces.

In opening remarks, SOFEX Director General, Amer Tabba, said the exhibition is far more than just a conference, but a "crucible to cast" world expertise and a meeting place of international defence industry developers and government decision-makers to exchange views and be acquainted with up-to-date innovations and technologies "that have emerged and which will be the basic components in the structure of modern armies in the near future." "Here the Special Forces commanders come together once again today in the country of peace, security and stability. We share everything in the service and the good of humanity in the shadow of pressures posed to our national security and world security as an embodiment of Your Majesty's saying: If your partner is strong, you are strong, too. We are aware that our common enemy is terrorism," Special Operations Commander, Brig. Gen. Mustafa Nawasrah, told the ceremony.

The inauguration included field displays by Special Forces units backed by helicopter gunships and military transport planes.

At the outset of the ceremony, royal air force jets, flying the national flag and the banners of the armed forces and special operations forces and SOFEX 2014, overflew the site as the King and the audience watched anti-terrorism drills involving the use of military and security forces "to combat it and drain its sources since it targets innocent civilians and threatens national security." King Abdullah toured the pavilions of various companies and was briefed about the military equipment on display. He also called at the pavilion of the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB).

On the sidelines of SOFEX 2014, His Majesty met a number of delegation heads, defence ministers, senior military officials and heads of companies taking part in the exhibition.

Attending the ceremony were a number of princes, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Abdullah Ensour, the parliament speakers, the President of the Judicial Council, the director of the King's Office, the King's advisers, ministers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, directors of security agencies, army chiefs and heads of official delegations from various world countries.

Also joining the opening ceremony were foreign ambassadors and military attaches and other senior civil and military officials.

*Petra