His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF), on Tuesday inaugurated the ninth Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) 2012.

The exhibition brings together 321 world-renowned exhibitors in the fields of defence, homeland security and counterterrorism.

After the opening ceremony, King Abdullah toured pavilions showcasing security equipment and technologies. The King also observed military drills and parades being held as part of the expo.

SOFEX is held at the King Abdullah I Air Base in Marka and hosts more than 70 official delegations from 33 countries. Several Royal Family members, high-ranking officials and officers from the Kingdom and across the world took part in the opening ceremony.

In a speech at the opening, SOFEX Managing Director Amer Tabbaa stressed the key role special operations play in protecting citizens of every nation and safeguarding growth and prosperity. SOFEX, he said, is a meeting place where governmental decision makers from across the world meet with the experts and developers from the global defence industry to gain insight on the latest technologies.

Also in a speech at the opening session, Joint Special Operations Commander Brig. Gen. Khaled Mahmoud Bani Yassin highlighted the importance of cooperation and coordination amongst special operators to protect civilian populations and thwart the ever-evolving threats to security and peace.

On the first day of SOFEX, the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) launched the first prototype of the Light Tactical 4x4 All-Terrain Vehicle, which is exclusively designed to meet the defence needs of the JAF.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, His Majesty met Pakistani Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar and Qatari Chief of Staff Brig. Hamad ben Ali Al Atiyeh and discussed prospects for defence cooperation with their countries, in addition to regional developments.