India, UAE Troops Hone Urban Warfare Skills in Exercise Desert Cyclone-II

Troops from the Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces are engaged in intensive joint training to sharpen urban combat capabilities as part of Exercise Desert Cyclone-II, currently underway at Al-Hamra in the United Arab Emirates.

According to a statement issued by the Indian Army, the ongoing exercise features a demanding blend of classroom instruction and field-based training modules focusing on key aspects of urban warfare. These include marking and clearing of buildings, improvised explosive device (IED) awareness, casualty evacuation, first aid, and structured mission planning. The objective is to enhance interoperability and develop common operating procedures for operations in built-up areas.

As the exercise progresses, participating troops are undertaking increasingly complex practical drills in urban terrain. These cover room intervention, building clearance and platoon-level joint assault operations. The statement noted that both armies have exchanged and rehearsed joint drills on room intervention and clearance, with an emphasis on standardising tactics, techniques and procedures.

The training phase will culminate in integrated offensive and defensive urban operations, reinforcing coordinated action, mutual trust and operational readiness for sub-conventional contingencies in an urban environment.

Exercise Desert Cyclone-II, the second edition of the India-UAE Joint Military Exercise, is being conducted from December 18 to 30. The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel, primarily drawn from a Mechanised Infantry Regiment battalion, while the UAE Land Forces are represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion.

The exercise aims to further strengthen defence cooperation and interoperability between the two countries through joint training in urban settings, with a focus on sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate, including peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and stability operations.

India and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations in 1972. Bilateral ties have traditionally been strong and received renewed momentum following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE in 2015, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years, which marked the beginning of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Team BharatShakti