Held at the Udairi Range, also known as Camp Buehring, in Kuwait in February 2023, Exercise al-Tahreer coincided with Kuwait's Liberation Day, commemorating the country's liberation from Iraqi occupation during the 1991 Gulf War.

The tri-lateral, multi-domain exercise brought together land, air, and artillery forces from the United Kingdom, United States and Kuwait to neutralize simulated threats through coordinated field artillery, air strikes, and ground maneuvers.

Camp Buehring sits about 100km northwest of Kuwait City and serves as a major US Army base in Kuwait.

The United States played a central role in planning and executing al-Tahreer.

Aviation assets from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade -- also known as Task Force Mustang -- participated in the live fire exercises.

Specifically, the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment's Attack helicopter Battalion and the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment's Assault Helicopter Battalion flew during the exercise, providing precision air support.

The units flew their Apaches and Black Hawks, the US Army's close-air support and attack helicopters of choice.

The units leveraged combat-tested aerial assets to practice the coordination, precision, and interoperability required for joint operations in a contested environment.

The Apache has fully integrated Link 16 interoperability, meaning that it can communicate in real time with other assets, whether partner forces or ground-based assets such as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) multiple rocket launchers.

It boasts an impressive array of ordnance and four hard points that can mount AGM-114 Hellfire missiles which offer air-to-ground anti-tank capabilities.

The Black Hawk, meanwhile, can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, combining major firepower with troop transport capabilities.

The helicopter can carry 11 fully equipped soldiers, beyond its typical crew of a pilot, copilot, and crew chief.

Allied cooperation

Al-Tahreer emphasized the importance of multinational partnerships. Multiple units from across Kuwait Land Forces, the US Army's aviation and ground units and the British Army convened.

The collaboration showcased how combined capabilities and joint planning strengthen operational effectiveness, delivering a powerful and unified performance just in time to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of Kuwait's liberation.

The exercise highlighted the cooperation between British Army components, Kuwait Land Forces and the US Army, demonstrating advanced interoperability and further building mutual trust.

It served to reinforce a shared commitment to regional stability and underlined the strength of US leadership in forging enduring military partnerships.

More than a training event, al-Tahreer stood as both a tribute to Kuwait's liberation and a demonstration of America's leadership in building enduring partnerships for regional stability.