Aqaba, Oct. 26 (Petra) -- HRH Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein patronized the opening of the Middle East Special Operations Commanders Conference (MESOC) in Aqaba on Monday.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Majdi Al Harasis and Public Security Director Maj. Gen. Obaidallah Maaytah attended, along with senior officers of the Jordan Armed Forces – Arab Army, security agencies, Partner nations, and official figures.
More than 400 official delegations representing 75 countries are taking part, alongside 350 exhibiting companies from 38 countries, to discuss latest developments in the defense and security industries, review modern technologies and strategies to confront future security challenges, and promote international cooperation and the exchange of expertise.
SOFEX Company Chairman Ayman Batran, said Jordan's hosting of the conference confirms its international standing as a reliable and effective partner in countering terrorism, strengthening security measures, developing institutional and operational capabilities, and exchanging expertise. He added that it reflects the Kingdom's robust role in supporting security and peace in the region and the world.
Batran said this edition of SOFEX carries exceptional importance because it comes amid a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex security and operational environment. Shared knowledge and collective experience have become essential to readiness and effective response, he said, particularly in the field of drones and counter-drone systems and to keep pace with technological transformations.
In his speech at the conference, the Special Forces commander said the effectiveness of special operations forces today depends mainly on anticipating and forecasting change, not merely reacting to it. He stressed that contemporary security challenges require entrenching a culture of institutional integration and building international strategic partnerships.
This year's focus on knowledge and innovation, multi-domain operations, and international military cooperation is a key pillar for strengthening regional resilience and developing capabilities to face expected threats and conditions, he said.
Intensive panel discussions took place across three main sessions, which addressed bridging the gap between theory and practice, and the role of the military, academic and industrial sectors in technical development, innovation and support for combat readiness.
Participants also examined the interdependence between unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and special operations forces in asymmetric warfare across different domains. They also discussed the challenges and benefits of joint fusion and targeting centers, and the role of military diplomacy and unconventional humanitarian missions.
The conference is an official event coinciding with the Jordanian Special Operations Forces Exhibition "SOFEX 2026", which opens on Tuesday under Royal patronage at the Aqaba exhibition and conference grounds and runs for three days, with local and international participation. It will showcase the latest weapons, equipment, and defense and security technologies.
//Petra// NQ
