A US-GCC military exercise aimed at training on tactics of combating terrorists came to an end in Qatar Thursday, the Qatar News Agency reported.

Commander of the US Central Command General John Abizaid was quoted as saying that troops and personnel from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states took part in the exercise, which started on May 1 and was designed to combat terrorism and exchange expertise among the participating forces regarding joint operations with US troops.

Abizaid said such a joint exercise has laid down foundations for cooperation between the United States and the GCC states' armed forces to manage crises, disasters or terror attacks.

He said the exercise was mainly carried out by the Qatari armed forces as part of annual training, adding that Iraq has participated in the military event for the first time.

Observers from Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Kyrgyzstan attended the event.

The GCC groups Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

Source: Xinhua