April 3, 2020

115TH Field Artillery Brigade and 4-133rd Field Artillery Regiment Participate in Bilateral Exercises with UAE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — In support of the Task Force Spartan mission, Soldiers from the 115th Field Artillery Brigade and 4-133rd Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) participated in multiple bilateral exercises with their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates Land Forces. Maj. Daniel Long, 115th FAB Intelligence Officer, participates in an after-action review with his Emirati counterpart at Operation Thundercloud. The exercises, which culminated in a joint High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live fire, spanned the course of several weeks throughout March 2020.

April 2, 2020

IMSC Enforces Safety Measures to Protect Members from COVID-19

MANAMA, BAHRAIN — The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) has been practicing several safety precautions to promote the health and safety of all its members with the recent COVID-19 outbreak. No members of the IMSC have fallen ill to COVID-19 as of current.

April 1, 2020

Coalition forces stay operations-ready

IRAQ — The Coalition forces comprising the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force conducted medical operations exercises on March 27th, 2020 in the northern region of Iraq. The CJSOTF operates as part of Operation Inherent Resolve in counter Daesh missions.

April 1, 2020

U.S. Navy Surface Forces and Army Attack Helicopters Conduct Integration Operations in Arabian Gulf

U.S. Navy Expeditionary Landing Base ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT), has been conducting joint naval and air integration operations with U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters assigned to U.S. Army Central Command’s (USARCENT) Task Force Saber, throughout the month of March.

March 27, 2020

Six Tips for Protecting Your Teammates from COVID-19 Spread; ست نصائح لحماية زملائك في الفريق من انتشار فيروس كورونا-19 Şeş tiştên ji bo parastina xwe jı berfireh kirina Vîrûsa Korona-19

ARIFJAN, KUWAIT 03.27.2020 — For the SOJTF-OIR Coalition and our Iraq and Syria partners, the COVID-19 pandemic adds an additional obstacle to the overall mission of maintaining the enduring defeat of Daesh. Multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 have appeared across countries in the Middle East as the virus continues to spread in communities across the globe.

March 26, 2020

Lithuania Joins the International Maritime Security Construct

MANAMA, Bahrain — The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) welcomes Lithuania’s participation in the multinational efforts aimed at enhancing maritime security throughout key waterways in the Middle East. Lithuania is the eighth member nation to join the IMSC since it formed in November 2019. Other members include Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

March 25, 2020

Esper lists DOD's top priorities during COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON — Protecting the Defense Department's people, maintaining military readiness and supporting the whole-of-government interagency response are DOD's top three priorities amid the coronavirus pandemic, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said.

March 19, 2020

Ike, Truman Conduct Dual Carrier and Joint Air Wing Operations in the Arabian Sea

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) began dual carrier strike group and joint air wing operations with a B-52 Bomber from U.S. Air Forces Central Command in the Arabian Sea March 18, 2020.

March 18, 2020

The Defeat of Daesh: One Year Later

KUWAIT — At the height of their power, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, now referred to as Daesh, operated in 18 different countries and had an annual budget of $1 billion with an estimated 30,000 members. They conducted ground attacks on both government forces and any other force that opposed them. Their goal: to establish a so-called caliphate in the region. On August 7th, 2014, the U.S.-led coalition launched airstrikes against Daesh. On March 23rd, 2019, the Pentagon announced the physical defeat of the Daesh caliphate in Syria. Over 110,000 square miles were liberated. Approximately 7.7 million people were freed from Daesh oppression. In Baghuz, Syria, where the final battle took place, a yellow flag was flown atop a building by U.S.-backed Syrian forces as they celebrated their victory over Daesh.

March 15, 2020

US Navy surface forces and AC-130W gunships conduct joint operations in Arabian Gulf

U.S. Navy Cyclone-class patrol coastal ships (PC) and P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) conducted a first of its kind joint exercise with AC-130W Stinger II gunships assigned to Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), March 8 and 9.