WELLINGTON, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand Defense Force ( NZDF) on Friday declared a military exercise involving troops from four countries to be a success, despite a late decision by Australian forces to pull out.
Exercise Alam Halfa, conducted in three North Island locations, concluded earlier this week after a month of pre-deployment training, live fire exercises and field exercises involving more than 1,000 personnel.
The New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force were joined by Canadian, U.S. and British armies and the U.S. Marine Corps to enact a common conflict scenario of insurgents trying to overthrow a government.
Major Aidan Shattock, of the New Zealand Army, said Australian troops had been expected to take part in the exercise, but they later withdrew in order to "focus their efforts later in the year on Exercise Southern Katipo."
However, British and Canadian troops, who were already in New Zealand on exchanges, joined in "Exercise Alam Halfa," which ran from May 3 to 28, Shattock told Xinhua in a phone interview.
He could not give a breakdown for the number of troops from each country.
Exercise Alam Halfa 2013 was the precursor to Exercise Southern Katipo, which was expected to be the largest ever army exercise held in New Zealand, he said.
Shattock said U.S. and Australian forces had confirmed they would participate in Exercise Southern Katipo and the NZDF was awaiting confirmation from other countries.
No other details were yet available on Exercise Southern Katipo, which was to be held in the South Island, he said.
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