News Articles

Feb. 5, 2026

U.S. Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces Conclude Exercise Indigo Defender

MANAMA, Bahrain – U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces West Fleet (RSNF-WF) concluded the NAVCENT-led, bilateral exercise Indigo Defender 2026, Feb. 5. “It was a pleasure to join our Royal Saudi Naval Forces partners for another iteration of Indigo Defender,” said Capt. Kelley Jones, commander, Task Force 55. “This exercise provided the opportunity to enhance our interoperability at both the operational and tactical levels. By continuing to train together, we strengthen our collective ability to support maritime security and stability in the region.”

Feb. 5, 2026

USS Delbert D. Black Departs Israel Following Port Visit

MANAMA, Bahrain (Feb. 1, 2026) – Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) departed Eilat, Israel, following a scheduled port visit, Feb. 1. This port visit demonstrates U.S. and Israel’s strong maritime partnership and shared commitment to advancing security and prosperity in the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea.

Feb. 3, 2026

MARCENT Hosts Lebanese Armed Forces for Security Summit

TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (MARCENT) hosted a bi-lateral security summit attended by senior leaders from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 29-30. LAF leaders briefed U.S. military leadership on regional security matters including operational updates and progress toward the army's disarmament plan.

Jan. 27, 2026

AFCENT to Conduct Readiness Exercise, Generate Combat Airpower

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY - Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. This exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for flexible response execution throughout CENTCOM. It will serve as a way for AFCENT to validate procedures for rapid movement of personnel and aircraft; dispersed operations at contingency locations; logistics sustainment with a minimal footprint; and integrated, multi-national command and control over a large area of operations.

Jan. 13, 2026

Blue Sands 26.1 Fortifies Integrated Air Defense and C-UAS Capabilities Across AFCENT

U.S. and partner nation forces gathered Dec. 11, 2025, for a multinational exercise focused on defending the region against modern airborne threats.

Jan. 8, 2026

Soldiers, Airmen Increase Sustainment Mission Capabilities

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY — U.S. Army riggers assigned to the 294th Quartermaster Company, Detachment 3 conducted joint training with U.S. Air Forces Central personnel in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 15-19.

Dec. 16, 2025

332nd AEW Rolls Towards Modernization with New Vehicle Fleet

The 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron received new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, improving the fleet used for base defense and increasing safety and survivability in challenging terrain, in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 3, 2025.

Dec. 11, 2025

U.S. and Israeli Navies Conclude Exercise Intrinsic Defender

HAIFA, Israel — U.S. naval forces assigned to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations and the Israeli navy joined together for exercise Intrinsic Defender in Israel, Dec. 7-11.

Nov. 22, 2025

U.S., Qatar and Allies Enhance Regional Defense during Exercise Ferocious Falcon 6

More than 1,300 military personnel from the U.S., Qatar, Italy, United Kingdom, Turkey and France participated in Exercise Ferocious Falcon 6, a biennial, Qatar-hosted multinational joint exercise, Nov. 16-20.

Nov. 19, 2025

Royal Saudi Land Forces Complete Historic Training Rotation in U.S.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) completed training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, Nov. 19. RSLF personnel partnered with U.S. Army Central, the 3rd Security Forces Assistance Brigade, and the 1st Cavalry Division during a training rotation. More than 130 RSLF Soldiers trained in the United States with 12 M1 Abrams tanks and six M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles shipped from Saudi Arabia.