March 21, 2020

U.S. Central Command Statement on Confirmed COVID-19 Case at U.S. Central Command HQ

TAMPA, Fla. — "A U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to U.S. Central Command headquarters tested positive for the COVID 19 Coronavirus on March 20, 2020, and is under treatment at his home in Tampa, Florida.

March 20, 2020

U.S. Central Command Statement on Quarantine procedures into its Area of Responsibility

TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command has ordered a stop movement of all forces deploying to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to either U.S. commands or U.S.-led coalitions and initiated the requirement for a 14-day quarantine at home station prior to deployment. U.S. Central Command will work with U.S. Transportation Command to ensure that deploying forces will also be quarantined in route to their final destination.

March 13, 2020

General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.: Pentagon Press Briefing on Camp Taji response on Kata'ib Hizbollah

WASHINGTON D.C. — Good morning. Thank you all for coming today. First and foremost I want to express my condolences to the family and friends of a number of recent casualties that we have tragically lost in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Two Marines were killed in mountainous territory in Northern Iraq in an advise and accompany mission with our Iraqi partners during a mission against the remnants of ISIS.

March 12, 2020

Statement by the Department of Defense

Earlier this evening, the United States conducted defensive precision strikes against Kata’ib Hizbollah (KH) facilities across Iraq. These strikes targeted five weapon storage facilities to significantly degrade their ability to conduct future attacks against Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) coalition forces. These weapons storage facilities include facilities that housed weapons used to target U.S. and coalition troops. These strikes were defensive, proportional, and in direct response to the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shia militia groups (SMG) who continue to attack bases hosting OIR coalition forces.

Jan. 17, 2020

Statement regarding treatment and ongoing service member screening for injuries related to Jan 8, 2020, Iranian ballistic missile attack on Al Assad Air Base, by Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for U.S. Central Command

"While no U.S. service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed. As a standard procedure, all personnel in the vicinity of a blast are screened for traumatic brain injury, and if deemed appropriate are transported to a higher level of care. In the days following the attack, out of an abundance of caution, some service members were transported from Al Asad Air Base, Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, others were sent to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for follow-on screening. When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening. The health and welfare of our personnel is a top priority and we will not discuss any individual's medical status.

Jan. 7, 2020

DOD Statement on Iranian Ballistic Missile Attacks in Iraq

Statement from Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Hoffman: At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq. It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil.

Dec. 29, 2019

Statement From Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Jonathan Hoffman

In response to repeated Kata'ib Hizbollah (KH) attacks on Iraqi bases that host Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) coalition forces, U.S. forces have conducted precision defensive strikes against five KH facilities in Iraq and Syria that will degrade KH's ability to conduct future attacks against OIR coalition forces.

Dec. 12, 2019

Remarks by Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper at the House Armed Services Committee Hearing on Syria and Middle East Policy

Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Thornberry, and distinguished members of the Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the security situation in Syria and the broader Middle East.

Nov. 1, 2019

U.S. Central Command welcomes Albania's participation in the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC)

TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command welcomes Albania's participation in the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC). Albania is the seventh nation to join this crucial multinational effort to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce through key waterways in the Middle East. Albania is joining the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain in contributing to the IMSC. Freedom of navigation is a vital international norm that the international community must work together to protect.

Oct. 28, 2019

Statement by Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper on the Operation to Capture or Kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

"This is a great day for America and a great day for the world. Last night, US joint special operations forces and interagency partners flawlessly executed a Commander-in-Chief directed operation to capture or kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. As a result, al-Baghdadi, who led the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorist movement and inspired one of the most brutal and misguided terror campaigns in modern history, is dead at the hands of the United States military.