Photo By Maged Benjamin-Elias | Yemeni Maj. Gen. Ismail Zahzouh, commander of Special Operations Forces, center,...... read more read more
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MOHAMED NAGUIB MILITARY BASE, Egypt — Maj. Gen. Ismail Zahzouh, commander of Yemen’s Special Operations Forces, said his country’s participation in Bright Star 2025 marks both a return to international cooperation and a commitment to regional and maritime security.
“Yemen’s participation in Bright Star means a lot — beyond gaining expertise and skills and working side by side with many friendly and brotherly nations,” Zahzouh said during an interview at the exercise. “It also means Yemen is emerging from the situation imposed on it in recent years and returning to its rightful place within the region and the international community.”
Yemen last participated in Bright Star in 2010, before years of internal conflict excluded the country from international exercises. Zahzouh said rejoining this year’s training reflects Yemen’s determination to confront terrorism, safeguard maritime navigation, and strengthen security ties.
Located at a vital maritime crossroads, Yemen plays a critical role in protecting global trade routes, Zahzouh said. “Yemen’s presence within the regional and international framework is a safety valve for securing maritime navigation and trade against terrorist activities,” he added, referencing threats from Houthi militias backed by outside actors.
Bright Star 2025, hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt and U.S. Central Command, includes more than 40 participating nations. Zahzouh emphasized the value of training alongside regional and international partners, noting that Yemeni forces gained experience in leadership, tactics, cyber defense, intelligence, communications, and Unmanned Systems.
“We certainly benefited significantly from U.S. forces, given their vast expertise in all specialties and fields,” Zahzouh said. “Moreover, U.S. forces possess modern technologies that most countries do not — making this a unique and invaluable opportunity.”
He added that Yemen hopes to participate in future iterations of Bright Star from the earliest planning and logistics stages, with larger contingents and broader specialties.
Beyond military readiness, Zahzouh said the exercise sends an important signal. “Our participation carries a message to the Yemeni people: that we, together with the Arab and international community, are working hand in hand to combat terrorism. We bring good news to the Yemeni people that … with the cooperation of all, we will soon eradicate the terrorist militias in Yemen.”
He expressed gratitude to Egypt for hosting and to the U.S. Central Command for facilitating Yemen’s return to the exercise after more than a decade.
“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with our friends in the United States, especially U.S. Central Command, to expand cooperation beyond training and exercises,” Zahzouh said. “Our concerns are shared, our enemy is one, and we all care about the stability of the region so that it may enjoy prosperity and security.”
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2025 15:04 |
| Story ID: | 549437 |
| Location: | ALEXANDRIA, EG |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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