Units from the Egyptian and Sudanese Air Forces and Special Forces (thunderbolt) are conducting a joint air drill, dubbed Nile Eagles 2, at Meroe Air Base in Sudan, the Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman said on Wednesday.

According to an official statement, the forces carried out intensified training activities, the first stage of which started with refining skills to manage joint air operations with high efficiency.

The troops also conducted joint sorties to attack hostile targets and protect vital targets, with the participation of multirole fighter aircraft, the statement added.

The special forces of both sides trained on raids and stealth operations, as well as firing from different shooting positions.

The Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Mohamed Othman, who inspected the troops participating in the exercise, praised the "harmony" displayed in the performance of the two sides.

The statement noted that the exercise aims to achieve the maximum possible benefit in terms of planning and carrying out air operations as well as to measure the readiness of the forces to carry out joint operations on various objectives.