ASTANA. July 17 (Interfax) - Military units from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have practiced eliminating armed militant formations in the Birlestik 2024 exercise, the Kazakh Defense Ministry's press service said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The operations took place on the Oimasha firing range in western Kazakhstan, where the troops of the participating countries practiced 17 tactical episodes. They all worked on one combat training task which is to find, block and eliminate illegal militant formations seeking to take over the territory and create a caliphate state," the statement said.
Fighter jets, as well as Wing Loong, Orbiter and Puma reconnaissance drones, searched for forward base areas, the militants' positions and their routes. The troops also practiced countering drones using electronic warfare, it said.
"Reserve force deployed on firing positions prevented the retreat of the illegal armed formation. The success of the operation was developed by engaging a tactical landing force, which took up an advantageous position in advance, as well as by strikes by a mixed aviation group," the statement said.
The defense ministers of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan watched the actions by the combined group of forces.
The military maneuvers will continue on the Caspian coast and in the sea area near Cape Tokmak.
The Birlestik 2024 tactical command post exercise involves some 4,000 troops and up to 700 pieces of arms and military hardware from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.