Latest News

Press Releases

CJTF-OIR News

News Archives

Press Release Archive

Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of the U.S. Central Command, briefs reporters at the Pentagon, April 22, 2020, following a budget hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

April 23, 2021

Military Leaders Discuss Defense Authorization Request, Future Years Defense Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Army Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, the commander of the U.S. Africa Command, and Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the commander of the U.S. Central Command, testified today before the Senate Armed Services Committee in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2022 and the Future Years Defense Program.

Alabama National Guard Spc. Anthony Hayes, 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, April 13, 2021 monitors the signal strength from the Tampa satellite dish that handled communications and data traffic during the Fort Knox, Kentucky, based 1st Theater Sustainment Command's expeditionary command post validation exercise at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Hayes, whose battalion is deployed to Camp Buerhing, Kuwait, said he appreciated getting real-world, unscripted training working in the ECP validation exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe)

April 20, 2021

1st TSC validates expeditionary command post at Camp Arifjan exercise

KUWAIT 04.20.2021 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait--Soldiers of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's main command post at Fort Knox, Kentucky, deployed here throughout April for a validation exercise for its expeditionary command post.

The Marine Corps’ first MQ-9A at an undisclosed location in the Central Command area of responsibility. The MQ-9A completed 10,000 flight hours in support of Marine Corps Forces, Central Command operations on March 31, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps).

April 16, 2021

Marine Corps MQ-9 reaches 10 thousand flight hours in Central Command

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) — On March 31st, the Marine Corps’ first MQ-9A Unmanned Aerial System achieved 10 thousand total flight hours in the Central Command area of responsibility, a major milestone for the modernization of the force. The MQ-9A “Reaper” is a Remote Split Operations (RSO) product from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Incorporated. The RSO capability revolutionizes military operations by allowing the system operator to be thousands of miles away from both the launching site, and airspace covered by the aircraft. VMU-1, a squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, pilots the forward deployed Reaper, which has supported daily combat operations for Task Force Southwest in Afghanistan before its end of mission, and later 5th Fleet in the Arabian Gulf.

April 16, 2021

AMDEX 21-02 tests AFCENT, partner defense readiness

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) kicked off Air and Missile Defense Exercise 21-02, a U.S.-led event that improves tactics, techniques and procedures against simulated air and missile threats and strengthens distributed operations capabilities, April 12, 2021.

210413-N-MD713-2029 ARABIAN SEA (April 13, 2021) - U.S. Navy F/A-18F and F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jets, an E-2C Hawkeye tactical airborne early warning aircraft and French Marine Nationale Dassault Rafale fighter jets fly in formation over the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), during dual carrier operations with the aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) in the Arabian Sea, April 13. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Pinske)

April 15, 2021

U.S., French Carrier Strike Groups Conduct Dual Carrier Operations in 5th Fleet

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN — The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), began dual-carrier flight operations with the French Navy (Marine Nationale) Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group in the Arabian Sea, April 13.

210411-N-AY174-1086 DUQM (April 11, 2021) - Vice Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces speaks with Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a sustainment and logistics visit in Duqm, Oman, April 11. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brianna T. Thompson-Lee)

April 12, 2021

Ships of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Conduct Port Visit in Duqm

The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), flagship of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), and guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) conducted a scheduled port visit in support of logistics and maintenance in Duqm, Oman, April 10-12. While this was a working port visit, crew members had an opportunity to rest and unwind in a designated liberty area on the pier. These activities were planned and carried out in full compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Defense (DOD) and host nation COVID-19 mitigation measures.

Royal Bahrain Naval Force fast attack craft RBNS Abdul Rahman Al-fadel (P 22), Bahrain Coast Guard response boats Hawar 5 and Hawar 4, U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72), patrol coastal ships USS Squall (PC 7) and USS Hurricane (PC 3), U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Adak (WBP 1333) and two Mark VI patrol boats operate in formation during exercise Neon Defender in the Arabian Gulf, April 7. Neon Defender 21 is a bilateral maritime exercise between the U.S. and Bahrain, designed to enhance interoperability and readiness, fortify military-to-military relationships and advance operational capabilities, allowing participating naval forces to effectively develop the necessary skills to address threats to regional security, freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce. (Army Photo by Spc. Evens Milcette Jr.)

April 8, 2021

Bahrain, U.S. Forces Complete Exercise Neon Defender 21

The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) conducted bi-lateral maritime exercise Neon Defender (ND) 21 at sea in the Arabian Gulf and on land in the Kingdom of Bahrain, April 3-7.

210402-N-MD713-1058 SUEZ CANAL (April 2, 2021) The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) transits the Suez Canal, April 2. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Pinske)

April 3, 2021

Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Enters 5th Fleet

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN — The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), along with guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) and guided-missile destroyers USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), completed a southbound Suez Canal transit into the Red Sea, April 2.

Operation Inherent Resolve; carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

March 31, 2021

IKE Supports OIR from Eastern Mediterranean

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN — Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group began flight operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, March 31, 2021.

La mission CLEMENCEAU 21 est composée de plusieurs phases. La deuxième phase initiale en mer Rouge, océan Indien et Golfe arabo-persique permet aux escorteurs français Frégate de défense aérienne (FDA) Chevalier Paul, Frégate multi-missions (FREMM) Provence, Bâtiment de commandement et de ravitaillement (BCR) Var et allié (frégate belge Léopold 1er) d’assurer la présence française dans des zones stratégiques, de contribuer à l’appréciation autonome de situation et de lutter contre le terrorisme isl © Marine nationale / Défense

March 23, 2021

France, Belgium, Japan and U.S. Forces Complete Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise

France, Belgium, Japan and U.S. forces conducted a Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise (GASWEX) in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman, March 19-22. Led by the French Marine Nationale’s Charles De Gaulle carrier strike group, this combined, multilateral surface, air and sub-surface training is the first major multilateral exercise conducted since commencing their Clemenceau 21 deployment in February.