Mers El Kébir Naval Base Hosts Readiness Exercise

General Saïd Chengriha, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, recently visited the Second Military Region in Oran to inspect the combat readiness of Naval Forces. During the second day of his visit, General Chengriha supervised the execution of the “Mediterranean Falcon 2026” tactical exercise along the Western Maritime Façade, specifically at the Mers El Kébir main naval base. He was received by Major General Mahfoud Benmeddah, Commander of the Naval Forces, and reviewed a naval formation of floating units that rendered an honorary salute.

Accompanied by the Commander of the Second Military Region, General Chengriha received a presentation from the Commander of the Naval Forces and the Commander of the Western Maritime Façade, detailing the exercise's general concept and implementation phases within the 2026-2027 combat preparation program. The tactical exercise featured a coastal defense missile firing aimed at a surface target, which was successfully destroyed with high accuracy. This achievement underscores the advanced proficiency attained by Naval Forces crews in utilizing various weapons and equipment, as well as the significant evolution in the operational readiness of naval units observed in recent years.

Following the conclusion of the exercise, General Saïd Chengriha addressed the cadres and personnel of the Western Maritime Façade. He commended the participating units for the exercise's success and their dedication in executing assigned missions. The Chief of Staff of the People's National Army emphasized the importance of sustained efforts to elevate readiness levels, ensuring the robust protection of national coasts and effectively countering various threats and scourges that might infiltrate via the sea, including illegal immigration and different forms of drug trafficking.