OMAN: Members of Britain's 1 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, battle through sandstorms on September 23 as part of their pre-exercise helicopter drills and training, at an undisclosed location in Oman. The regiment is part of Exercise Saif Sareea 2, military exercise in Oman with more than 20,000 UK troops training alongside Omani forces in a variety of roles. The exercise also involves the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, some 20 other ships and more than 50 aircraft. —AP/PTI