April 24, 2023

Task Force 51/5 Conducts Joint Training with U.S. Army

NORTHERN ARABIAN GULF — Earlier this week, Soldiers assigned to Task Force Spartan, U.S. Army Central Command’s Crisis Response Task Force, trained with Marines and Sailors assigned to Naval Amphibious Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade aboard Expeditionary Sea Base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) to better enable crisis response options and joint-service interoperability within United States Central Command...

April 21, 2023

U.S. Navy Ship Patrolling Middle East Seizes $42 Million in Drugs

MANAMA, Bahrain — A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer interdicted a fishing vessel attempting to smuggle $42 million in illegal drugs while transiting the Gulf of Oman, April 21.

April 17, 2023

His Majesty the King of Bahrain Visits U.S. 5th Fleet Headquarters

MANAMA, Bahrain — His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, April 16, 2023.

April 13, 2023

U.S., France, UK Complete Counter-Mine Exercise in Arabian Gulf

MANAMA, Bahrain — Forces from France, the United Kingdom and the United States completed a two-week exercise in the Arabian Gulf, April 13, focused on countering mines.

April 12, 2023

Ships Supporting Two Naval Partnerships Conduct Training in Gulf of Aden

MANAMA, Bahrain – Ships from the navies of Japan and Italy sailed together and conducted combined training in the Gulf of Aden, April 8, while operating under two multinational maritime partnerships, Combined Maritime Forces and European Union Naval Forces. Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Makinami (DD 112) and Italian Navy frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini (F 590) transferred personnel and conducted professional exchanges on topics related to vessel boardings and maritime security.

April 5, 2023

Virginia National Guard, Tajikistan conduct SPP exchange

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Virginia National Guard Soldiers shared infantry tactics and how to counter unmanned air systems with the Republic of Tajikistan March 7-11 in an information exchange as part of the Defense Department’s State Partnership Program. Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners under the program since 2003. The infantry tactics exchange team, which included Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conducted the five-day event at a military installation in Dushanbe.

March 31, 2023

CAS aircraft arrive in Middle East

AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates — The first A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 31, 2023. The combat air support aircraft arrived ahead of schedule following the approval for the platform to return to theater. They will fall underneath the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra AB.

March 29, 2023

U.S. Air Forces Central hosting Innovation Oasis competition

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is hosting an Innovation Oasis competition at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, April 19 and submissions are due April 14.

March 24, 2023

U.S. Navy, EU Naval Forces Conduct Combined Patrol in Arabian Sea

MANAMA, Bahrain — A guided-missile destroyer from U.S. 5th Fleet completed a combined patrol in the Arabian Sea, March 23-24, with ships from Spain and Italy operating under European Union Naval Forces Operation Atalanta.

March 21, 2023

W.Va. Guard holds Key Leader Engagement with Qatar Partners

DOHA, Qatar — West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) senior leaders and members of the State Partnership Program (SPP) met with Qatari military leadership in Doha, Qatar March 14-16, 2023, to conduct key leader engagement and develop a path forward for future bilateral exchanges in the next year. The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Dusty Jones, and chief of the joint staff, Col. Brian Abraham, along with the SPP team and U.S. Embassy - Qatar personnel, met individually and collectively with various high-ranking officials within the Qatar Armed Forces and Qatar National Service Academy to establish priorities and discuss opportunities for information sharing and collaboration between the two militaries.