U.S. Central Command News

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

NAVCENT Public Affairs — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:47:00 GMT

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.”

USS Delbert D. Black Departs Israel Following Port Visit

NAVCENT Public Affairs — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:38:39 GMT

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.

MARCENT Hosts Lebanese Armed Forces for Security Summit

Pentagon News — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:08:00 GMT

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.

AFCENT to Conduct Readiness Exercise, Generate Combat Airpower

Pentagon News — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:24:00 GMT

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.

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

Pentagon News — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:21:00 GMT

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

Soldiers, Airmen Increase Sustainment Mission Capabilities

Tech. Sgt. Kristen Pittman — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:30:00 GMT

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.

332nd AEW Rolls Towards Modernization with New Vehicle Fleet

Senior Airman Kari Degraffenreed — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:42:00 GMT

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.

U.S. and Israeli Navies Conclude Exercise Intrinsic Defender

Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:51:00 GMT

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.

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

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

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.

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

Pentagon News — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:58:00 GMT

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.

Airpower on Display at the Dubai Airshow 2025

Lt. Col. Frank Hartnett — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:21:00 GMT

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- The Dubai Airshow 2025 roared to life this week as American air power took a leading role, captivating attendees with aerial demonstrations featuring the venerable B-52 Stratofortress, the cutting-edge F-35 Lightning II, the versatile F-16 Fighting Falcon and the capable U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon. The displays highlighted the United States’ commitment to regional security and underscored the unmatched capabilities of American air power.

US military aircraft, personnel support Dubai Airshow 2025

Tech. Sgt. Aaron Jenne — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:02:00 GMT

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - The Dubai Airshow 2025, one of the largest military expositions in the world, commenced today at Al Maktoum International Airport, United Arab Emirates. U.S. military personnel and aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Navy will be participating alongside global allies and partners.

332 ESFS sUAS division launches first quadcopter in AFCENT history

Senior Airman Kari Degraffenreed — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:18:00 GMT

The small unmanned aircraft systems flight, housed within the electronic warfare division of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, made history in U.S. Air Forces Central Command by flying the first quadcopter drone in the area of responsibility, Nov. 5, 2025. The team specializes in aerial defense through reconnaissance, target identification, and terrain observation by utilizing drones around base perimeters to better protect and defend personnel and assets.

U.S.-Jordan Complete Initial Planning for Exercise Eager Lion 2026

Maged Benjamin-Elias — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:01:00 GMT

On Oct. 24, the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed an initial planning conference for exercise Eager Lion 2026 in Amman, demonstrating the continued strong defense relationship between Jordan and the United States.

MARCENT establishes Task Force 89 to accelerate innovation

Ruben Cordero — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:04:00 GMT

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (MARCENT) announced the establishment of Task Force 89 (TF-89), an innovation and experimentation unit chartered to rapidly assess, validate and field solutions that address theater and service priorities across all warfighting domains. TF-89 will serve as MARCENT’s focal point for capability development, experimentation, and rapid integration. The task force will identify capability gaps, test potential solutions, and coordinate operational assessments in streamlined cycles designed to shorten the time between problem identification and capability employment.

W.Va., Qatar Military Police continue bilateral training, interoperability development

Pentagon News — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:32:00 GMT

At the invitation of Qatar Military Police Force (QMPF) Commander Maj. Gen. Rashid Al Hajri a West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) contingent visited QMPF Headquarters in Doha, Qatar on Sept. 12-18, 2025 as part of an ongoing series of Military Police (MP) Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) meant to reinforce and elevate the relationship built between the militaries since their National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP) pairing was formalized in 2018. "The U.S. and Qatari militaries are already highly interoperable, even more so for the WVNG and QMPF, thanks to our SPP," said WVNG Adjutant General James “Jim” Seward. "Visits like this build on our existing personal relationships to increase military cooperation and address shared regional and global challenges."

W.Va., Qatar Military Leaders Elevate Partnerships; NATO interoperability, global burden sharing, aviation platforms discussed

Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:44:43 GMT

West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) Adjutant General James “Jim” Seward traveled to Doha, Qatar, this week to meet with Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) counterparts as part of a series of key leader engagements meant to reinforce and elevate the relationships built between the militaries since their National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP) pairing was formalized in 2018. “Qatar has been an anchor of U.S. friendship and presence in the region," Seward said. “West Virginia is honored to champion bilateral and multilateral priority efforts for our two nations as we share a common interest in prevailing against complex regional security challenges and increasing interoperability on a global stage.”

Yemeni Commander Highlights Return to Bright Star 2025, Emphasizes Regional Security

Maged Benjamin-Elias — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:32:00 GMT

MOHAMED NAGUIB MILITARY BASE, Egypt — Maj. Gen. Ismail Zahzouh, commander of Yemen’s Special Operations Forces, said his country’s participation in Bright Star 2025 marks both a return to international cooperation and a commitment to regional and maritime security. “Yemen’s participation in Bright Star means a lot — beyond gaining expertise and skills and working side by side with many friendly and brotherly nations,” Zahzouh said during an interview at the exercise. “It also means Yemen is emerging from the situation imposed on it in recent years and returning to its rightful place within the region and the international community.”

U.S. and Jordan Conduct Bilateral Maritime Exercise Infinite Defender 25

NAVCENT Public Affairs — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:32:00 GMT

MANAMA, Bahrain – Forces from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (NAVCENT/C5F) and the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) participated in the annual, bilateral maritime exercise Infinite Defender 25, off the coast of Aqaba, Jordan, Sept. 14-18. The exercise focused on bilateral maritime infrastructure protection, explosive ordnance disposal, and anti-terrorism force protection, and provided a unique opportunity for U.S. and JAF armed forces to share knowledge and experience, expand levels of cooperation and enhance existing defensive capabilities.

Qatar Assumes Command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 152

NAVCENT Public Affairs — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:50:00 GMT

MANAMA, Bahrain –The Qatar Emiri Navy assumed command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Arabian Gulf security and cooperation task force during a change of command ceremony, presided over by Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Sept. 15. Commodore Mohammad Alarefi of the Kuwait Naval Force turned over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 to Qatari Brigadier General Hamad Saleh Al-Ahwal.