April 30, 2020

IMSC Holds Virtual Change of Command Ceremony

MANAMA, Bahrain — The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) headquarters held a change of command ceremony between two British officers at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain April 30.

April 28, 2020

Eisenhower Strike Group participates in interoperability exercises with French Navy

ARABIAN SEA — USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and the French Navy conducted a bilateral, interoperability exercise in the North Arabian Sea April 25- 26, 2020.

April 21, 2020

U.S. Navy Surface Forces and Army Helicopters Conduct Live Fire Exercise in North Arabian Gulf

U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters assigned to U.S. Army Central Command’s (USARCENT) Task Force Saber conducted a live fire exercise with ships assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) in the North Arabian Gulf April 16-19.

April 15, 2020

IRGCN Vessels Conduct Unsafe, Unprofessional Interaction with U.S. Naval Forces in Arabian Gulf

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN — On April 15, eleven Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels repeatedly conducted dangerous and harassing approaches of the USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), USS Firebolt (PC 10), USS Sirocco (PC 6), USCGC Wrangell (WPB 1332) and USCGC Maui (WPB 1304) while the U.S. vessels were conducting joint integration operations with U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in the international waters of the North Arabian Gulf.

April 15, 2020

DOD continues global military operations even as it battles COVID-19

Even as the Defense Department supports the whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it continues its vital national security missions, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said yesterday during a Pentagon news conference.

April 13, 2020

Bataan Amphibious Ready Group/26th Marine Expeditionary Unit stay mission ready during pandemic

ARABIAN SEA — The Sailors and Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are taking additional precautions while deployed at sea to stay healthy and mission ready in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. “The Bataan ARG and 26th MEU team is taking significant steps to remain a flexible, adaptive and persistent force in this region during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Capt. Lance Lesher, Commodore of the ARG. “We are a fully capable crisis response team for our nation. We are inspired by the strength of our families, who are enduring this pandemic back home, and in their honor, we stand strong and ready for any mission our country gives us.”

April 9, 2020

Task Force Spartan works to protect Soldiers from COVID-19

ARIFJAN, Kuwait — As COVID-19, commonly referred to as the Coronavirus, steadily advances, Task Force Spartan is working hard to prepare and protect its subordinate units and their Soldiers deployed throughout the Middle East. Although U.S. government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Health are leading the fight on the homeland, the U.S. Army response in a large portion of the U.S. Army Central area of operations has been entrusted to Task Force Spartan.

April 9, 2020

U.S. Army Apache helicopters complete landing qualifications aboard USS Lewis B Puller

Arabian Gulf — ARABIAN GULF – U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters with 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Heavy Attack Reconnaissance Squadron, conducted deck-landing qualifications (DLQ) aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) from March 23-27 in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

April 4, 2020

Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Transits Strait of Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz — The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), along with guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) and the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12), conducted a routine transit f through the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf April 3, 2020.

April 4, 2020

Coalition Civil Affairs Divests Equipment To Further Stabilize NE Syria; فريق الشؤون المدنية في التحالف يقوم بتوزيع المعدات لدعم عمليات الإستقرار في شمال شرق سوريا; Hevpeymaniya Karên Civakî Nehfên Hêlan dike da ku Hêlîna Bakurê Sûriyê Stabîl bike

Detention and hospital facilities in Al-Hasakah and Al-Shaddadi received approximately $1.2 million worth of equipment for detainee support and COVID-19 prevention efforts in northeast Syria on March 27th, 2020. The divestment comes as a joint effort from the Coalition’s Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund, the Civil Military Operations Center, and Civil Affairs Team Shaddadi. Personal protection equipment, such as latex gloves and masks, as well as surgical kits, defibrillators and oximeters were all provided to not only hospitals, but also detention facilities across the Hasakah and Shaddadi area.