Dec. 13, 2023

International Night at CENTCOM

TAMPA, Fla. - Each year, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) hosts a celebration that includes Coalition personnel present at MacDill Air Force Base. This celebration brings together many of CENTCOM’s Senior National Representatives (SNRs) and non-commissioned officers, who represent their respective countries at the command. These representatives and their families volunteer to cook and serve foods and sweets, for which their country is famous, to MacDill Air Force Base personnel and members of the Tampa Bay community.

Dec. 8, 2023

U.S., Japan ships complete bilateral exercise in Gulf of Aden

GULF OF ADEN – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Murasame-class destroyer FS Akebono (DD 108) conducted bilateral exercise in the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 25. Meeting at sea, the ships practiced a range of surface warfare events, including visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS), helicopter deck landing qualifications (DLQ), divisional tactics (DIVTACs), and personnel exchanges.

Nov. 27, 2023

IKE Strike Group Transits the Strait of Hormuz

ARABIAN GULF — The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) completed a scheduled transit through the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 26.

Nov. 14, 2023

USS Stethem, Task Force 59 put more eyes in the sky, expanding maritime domain awareness

MANAMA, Bahrain — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) recently demonstrated expansive maritime domain awareness, utilizing Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicles during operations in the Gulf of Oman, Nov. 8-9.

Oct. 6, 2023

After U.S. Downs Turkish Drone in Syria, Focus Remains on Defeat ISIS Mission

WASHINGTON D.C. - An American F-16 fighter aircraft shot down a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle that had been observed conducting airstrikes in a U.S.-restricted operating zone about a kilometer from U.S. forces in Syria today.  During a phone call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, the two leaders discussed the incident and agreed that while it is regrettable, the focus must remain on the important mission to defeat ISIS in Syria, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing today. 

Oct. 6, 2023

U.S. 5th Fleet Enhances Middle East Maritime Security with Unmanned Capabilities

MANAMA, Bahrain — Last month, naval forces in the Middle East region successfully integrated unmanned platforms with traditionally crewed ships and aircraft to conduct enhanced maritime security operations in the waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula.

Sept. 25, 2023

U.S. Naval Forces Advances Interoperability Search and Rescue Exercise with the Royal Bahrain Navy

MANAMA, Bahrain — The Sentinel-class fast response cutter, USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) and the Royal Bahrain Navy’s patrol craft Al Farooq (PC 43) conducted a search and rescue (SAR) exercise in the Arabian Gulf, Sept. 21.

Sept. 25, 2023

U.S. Forces Conduct Joint Aviation Integration Exercise in the Gulf of Oman

MANAMA, Bahrain — U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) conducted a joint Air Operation in Maritime Surface Warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Gulf of Oman, Sept. 23-24.

Sept. 22, 2023

USARCENT Deploys CCP to Jordan for Exercise Lucky Strike 23.2

ZARQA, Jordan – U.S. Army Central deployed its contingency command post Sept. 5-8 to Exercise Lucky Strike 23.2 at the Joint Training Center in Zarqa, Jordan. Consisting of approximately 100 service members and civilians from the USARCENT headquarters, the CCP is USARCENT’s rapidly deployable command element designed to provide command and control at any forward location in the U.S. Central Command region.

Sept. 20, 2023

French-Led Combined Task Force 150 seized more illegal narcotics in the Arabian Sea

MANAMA, Bahrain — On September 7, UK warship HMS Lancaster (F229), operating in support of the French-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 seized more than 450kg of illegal drugs including heroin and hashish in the Arabian Sea.