KUWAIT CITY, Oct 3: US Marines are holding a “regularly scheduled” two-week-long amphibious exercise with Kuwaiti forces, a US embassy spokesman said here on Thursday.

The exercises, which started on Tuesday, are “regularly scheduled. We hold them every year,” the spokesman said of “Eager Mace 2002”, which is being held to the backdrop of an anticipated US military offensive against Iraq.

“The exercises focus on joint training with Kuwaiti forces. They are an opportunity to enhance interoperability, to test communication systems and conduct training,” he added.

About 2,000 Marines were earlier said by US officials to be taking part in the Gulf drill.

Participants include troops from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Camp Pendleton, California, as well as the amphibious transport ships USS Denver and USS Mount Vernon, the US embassy here said.

The joint amphibious ground, air and naval training exercise is “intended to strengthen military-to-military relationships, improve readiness and interoperability between US and Kuwaiti forces. Some 10,000 US troops are currently based in Kuwait.—AFP