July 24, 2020

Multi-national exercise Bright Star postponed

TAMPA, Fla. — BRIGHT STAR, a joint, multi-national exercise hosted by the Egyptian Armed Forces has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled for September 2020, the exercise is rescheduled for September 2021. U.S. Central Command looks forward to continue this decades-long training relationship and resume the opportunity to train alongside our valued Egyptian partners and other nations.

July 23, 2020

U.S. Central Command statement on a visual inspection of a Mahan Air passenger airliner

TAMPA, Fla. — A U.S. F-15 on a routine air mission in the vicinity of the CJTF-OIR At Tanf garrison in Syria conducted a standard visual inspection of a Mahan Air passenger airliner at a safe distance of approximately 1,000 meters from the airliner this evening.

April 5, 2020

GUIDANCE ON USE OF CLOTH FACE COVERINGS WITHIN USCENTCOM

TAMPA, Fla. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Effective immediately, all individuals physically located on federal property - Military, Civilian, Contractor, Family Member and any others - will wear face cloth coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers. Movement into a USCENTCOM facility, and movement through the hallways of USCENTCOM facilities, will also be areas where face coverings are mandatory. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the J-DIR / SS and then submitted up the chain of command for situational awareness. This requirement is issued in accordance with SECDEF "Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings," issued 05 APR 20; DoDI 6200.03; and the Commander, MacDill AFB, Declaration of a "Public Health Emergency," which remains in effect.

April 2, 2020

U.S. Central Command Statement on the movement of air defense systems into Iraq

TAMPA, Fla. — "As the Commander, U.S. Central Command, Gen. Frank McKenzie said at a press briefing on March 13, the U.S. is moving defensive systems into Iraq to protect Iraqi, coalition, and U.S. service members from a variety of air threats seen at Iraqi bases that host coalition troops."

March 26, 2020

Message from the Commander, USCENTCOM to staff, family, and friends regarding headquarters COVID-19 efforts

TAMPA, Fla. — Family and friends of the United States Central Command Headquarters, Thank you for your support during these difficult times surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. We want you to know that we have been in close coordination with MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), state and federal authorities and have been taking appropriate measures to protect the health of all personnel working within the CENTCOM headquarters here in Tampa, Florida, as well as throughout our area of operations.

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.