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Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) transits the Strait of Hormuz, Feb. 8. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are 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 Ethan Jaymes Morrow)

Feb. 9, 2021

Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and Embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Enter Arabian Gulf

The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) and dry cargo ship USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) transited the Strait of Hormuz, entering the Arabian Gulf Feb. 8.

U.S. Soldiers with Task Force Gambler and Italian soldiers with Airmobile Task Group Griffon respond to a downed aircraft scenario during an aerial reaction force exercise. The exercise ensured the coalition partners’ cohesiveness in responding to downed aircraft emergencies in hostile environments. (DoD photo by Lt. Col. Alessandro Campiello, Italian Army)

Feb. 4, 2021

U.S., Italian soldiers train to save lives and equipment

IRAQ — Elements of the U.S. and Italian armed forces, currently serving in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, recently trained together in a downed aircraft recovery exercise in northern Iraq. Soldiers with the U.S. Army’s Task Force Gambler and the Italian army’s Airmobile Task Group Griffon came together to respond to a simulated emergency where an Italian NH90 tactical transport helicopter went down in enemy territory.

210124-N-XG173-1526 ARABIAN GULF (Jan. 24, 2021) Royal Saudi Naval Force ships and U.S. Navy sail in formation during exercise Nautical Defender (ND) 21 in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 24. ND 21 is the capstone in a series of multi-national maritime security exercises designed to broaden levels of cooperation, support long-term regional security, and enhance military-to-military interoperability between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UK and the U.S. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aja Bleu Jackson)

Feb. 4, 2021

Saudi, UK, U.S. Forces complete Exercise Nautical Defender 21

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (Jan. 29, 2021) – Forces assigned to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) conducted tri-lateral maritime exercise Nautical Defender 21 (ND 21) in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 20-29.

Visit, board, search and seizure sailors assigned to guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea board a dhow suspected of carrying narcotics in the international waters of the North Arabian Sea, Jan. 31. (U.S. Navy photo)

Feb. 2, 2021

USS Philippine Sea interdicts over $2.8 Million of heroin in North Arabian Sea

NORTH ARABIAN SEA — The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), deployed to U.S. Fifth Fleet and operating in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), interdicted a shipment of more than 600 lbs. (275 kg) of suspected narcotics from a dhow in the international waters of the North Arabian Sea, Jan. 30. Seven bags of suspected narcotics were seized and tested, resulting in a seizure of approximately 600 lbs. (275 kg) of suspected heroin, worth $2.89 million wholesale. This seizure, conducted in direct support of CMF’s Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, marks the seventh CMF drug seizure since October 2020.

Humvees, M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other vehicles are staged for transfer at the Port of Shuaiba for the upcoming Iron Union exercise Jan. 21, 2020 at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. The equipment and rolling stock will go through the same process in the United Arab Emirates once the Iron Union 14 exercise has concluded. The 1185th DDSB will coordinate with adjacent units in the UAE to receive the stock back at the Port of Shuaiba. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zoran Raduka, 1st TSC Public Affairs)

Feb. 2, 2021

1185th Sentinels stand ready to support Iron Union 14

SHUAIBA PORT, Kuwait — For the Army to support hundreds of missions across the globe, they rely on specialized distribution battalions such as the 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion (DDSB) located at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. The 1185th DDSB’s role is simple: to receive equipment and provide the transportation means necessary to ship everything out of port through the Arabian Sea. Coordinating the logistics for each mission is not necessarily an easy task. The unit is responsible for overseeing contracts, monitoring all safety measures, and arranging the transportation for all rolling stock and equipment to their assigned locations.

U.S. Air Force personnel assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and 77th Fighter Generation Squadron trained with the U.S. Army and Royal Saud Air Force to execute a joint force and partner nation exercise called Desert Mirage II, Jan. 19-20, 2020. The event was a two-day live fly exercise aimed at developing bilateral defensive counter air and integrated air defense capabilities. The exercise also enhanced interoperability between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and the RSAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Wes Wright)

Feb. 1, 2021

USAF, U.S. Army train with Royal Saudi Air Force during air defense exercise

PSAB, SAUDI ARABIA — U.S. Air Force personnel assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and 77th Fighter Generation Squadron trained with the U.S. Army and Royal Saudi Air Force to execute the joint force and partner nation exercise Desert Mirage II, Jan. 19-20, 2020.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft takes off from Al Udeid Air Base, Dec. 29, 2020. The jet took part in the first-ever cooperative air refueling of Qatar Emiri Air Force Rafale fighter jets. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing has continued to forge resolute partnerships between Al Udeid AB and its host nation of Qatar through events like this. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Martin)

Jan. 27, 2021

Enduring, resolute partners: US, Qatar conduct historic air-to-air refueling exercise

QATAR — For the first time ever, Qatar Emiri Air Force Rafales integrated with U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers during a week-long air-to-air refueling exercise at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Exercise Sky Shield brought together members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and the QEAF to meet three objectives which would showcase their enduring and resolute partnership, and to demonstrate the promise for future interoperability throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, assigned to Special Purpose Marine-Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response - Central Command, board an MV-22 Osprey during a crisis response exercise in Kuwait, Jan. 13, 2021. The regularly scheduled exercise was designed to sustain proficiency and enhance MAGTF integration in a realistic training environment. The SPMAGTF-CR-CC is a crisis response force, prepared to deploy a variety of capabilities across the region. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Yost)

Jan. 26, 2021

UAE Armed Forces and U.S. Marines complete defense training in UAE

AHMAD AL-JABER AIR BASE, Kuwait — Combined forces from the United Arab Emirates and United States recently completed a week long defense-focused training engagement in the UAE. Service members from the UAE Presidential Guard and U.S. Marine Corps’ Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, gathered to strengthen partnerships and enhance collective crisis response capability in the region.

5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Jan. 13, 2021) Bahrain Defense Force and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command personnel simulate clearing a building during a joint anti-terrorism exercise in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations, Jan. 13. The bilateral exercise focused on enhancing mutual security and anti-terrorism capabilities by testing responses to simulated scenarios. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Riggs)

Jan. 19, 2021

Bahrain and U.S. Armed Forces Conduct Joint Anti-Terrorism Exercise

5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS — Forces assigned to the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) participated in a combined, joint anti-terrorism exercise in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations, Jan. 12-13. The bilateral exercise focused on enhancing mutual security and anti-terrorism capabilities by testing responses to simulated scenarios.

MANAMA, Bahrain (December 30, 2020) Capt. Greg Smith, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain’s commanding officer, receives the COVID-19 vaccine from Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Rose Martinez. The vaccine is being administered in phases based on priority levels to reduce the burden of COVID-19 in high-risk populations and simultaneously mitigate risk to military operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Justin Yarborough/Released)

Jan. 6, 2021

NSA Bahrain COVID-19 Vaccine Arrival and First Inoculations

MANAMA, BAHRAIN — Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) Bahrain began administering the Moderna coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine on board Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Jan. 4.