Speaking to Arab News at Peninsula Shield headquarters in the Salimi region of Kuwait, Babaeer said the mission of his force was limited to protecting Kuwait from foreign attack.

The interview with the general was conducted after Arab News received an invitation to visit the Peninsula Shield Operations Center close to the Saudi-Kuwait border yesterday morning.

The encampment, approximately 120 km from Kuwait City, has troops from every Gulf Cooperation Council state. The GCC groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The weather was wet and there was a massive sandstorm, which sent soldiers and officers running for cover from the stinging dust and heavy rain.

The morale of the troops was high, however, as the rain and wind provided them a break from the searing sun of the past 20 days since they arrived at the camp. The sound of thunder accompanied the boom of heavy artillery fire in the distance.

The Peninsula Shield forces were deployed in Kuwait in response to a resolution adopted by the GCC defense and foreign ministers. Saudi Arabia has sent the largest contingent. “We are fully prepared to counter any possible attack against Kuwait,” Maj. Gen. Babaeer told Arab News. The GCC forces come under the Kuwaiti Central Command, not of the allied forces.

The general did not disclose the types of weapons his forces were having. However, he pointed out that the force had advanced weapons.

“Peninsula Shield is given intensive training to strengthen its combat capability,” he added. Asked whether the Peninsula Shield would join military operations inside Iraq, the general said: “Our mission is limited to defending Kuwait.”

He said his forces were closely following the military situation in Iraq and were well prepared to face any eventualities.

Babaeer said his forces had not received any orders from Kuwaiti authorities to thwart Iraqi missile attacks.

Speaking on Peninsula Shield’s daily activities in Kuwait, the commander said: “Our activities include supervision, protection, training and maintenance in addition to some other military missions.”

Established in 1985, the Peninsula Shield has achieved considerable progress over the past 18 years. It played a big role in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi forces.