Preparation for a Gulf strike force to combat terrorism and armed confrontation has been completed by GCC member states, a report said, adding that the force will be a headquartered in Bahrain.

The Gulf states have already finalised lists of officers and soldiers to be involved in this new military force, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication, citing Kuwaiti newspaper Al Shahed.

The ministries concerned have agreed to provide the force with sophisticated weapons including Apache helicopters and ground-mounted missiles, the paper quoted sources as saying.

The GCC countries have agreed to establish a central station in Bahrain and a high-tech operation room in Kuwait to follow up security and military developments in hot spots, round the clock, the sources added.

They said that Gulf security agencies have unearthed sleeper terrorist cells in GCC countries, some of them belonging to extremist groups such as the Islamic State and the banned Saraya Al Ashtar Group. – TradeArabia News Service