Statements

April 27, 2023

Statement from General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, Commander of U.S. Central Command, on seizure of a Merchant Vessel in the Gulf of Oman

"The illegal seizure of a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Oman by the Iranian Navy is another in a continuing series of violations of Iran of the international rules-based order. This kind of harassing activity is commensurate with an established pattern of Iranian behavior that places the security and stability of the Middle East at risk."

Feb. 16, 2023

Statement from CENTCOM Commander, General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, on the repatriation of 59 women and children from Syrian conflict zones to Kyrgyzstan

"We are grateful to the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic for working to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from the dismantling of the so-called ISIS caliphate. The only long-term solution to this crisis remains the successful repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of residents back to their countries of origin. In concert with our regional partners, CENTCOM will continue to support theses repatriation efforts using resources such as aircraft."

Nov. 20, 2022

Statement regarding Iranian strikes near Erbil, Iraq

Statement from General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, U.S. CENTCOM commander: “We condemn this evening’s Iranian cross-border missile and unmanned aerial vehicle strikes near Erbil, Iraq. Such indiscriminate and illegal attacks place civilians at risk, violate Iraqi sovereignty, and jeopardize the hard-fought security and stability of Iraq and the Middle East.”

Sept. 28, 2022

Statement regarding Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ unprovoked attack in Iraq’s Erbil Governorate

TAMPA, Fla. — “US Central Command condemns the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ unprovoked attack in Iraq’s Erbil Governorate this morning. Such indiscriminate attacks threaten innocent civilians and risk the hard-fought stability of the region. “No US forces were wounded or killed as a result of the strikes and there is no damage to US equipment.

Sept. 22, 2022

U.S. Central Command statement on Thwarted Suicide Bomber Attack near Um Fakik Village, Syria

TAMPA, Fla. — Statement from Colonel Joe Buccino, CENTCOM communications director: "At approximately 12:25 am on Sept. 20th, seven ISIS fighters in two vehicles headed in the direction of the Internally Displaced Persons camp at al-Hol were interdicted by U.S. partnered Syrian Democratic Forces.

Sept. 18, 2022

Statement regarding Syrian Democratic Forces security operation in al-Hol camp

TAMPA, Fla. - Yesterday, our Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) partners completed a security operation in the al-Hol displaced persons camp in northeastern Syria which began on August 25th to eradicate the camp’s ISIS facilitation networks.

“Over the past two days, General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla participated in the International Israeli Defense Forces Operational Innovation Conference in Camp Dayan and the Tze’elim Israeli Defense Force Base. A total of 22 nations, 7 Chiefs of General Staff, the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and more than 2,000 Soldiers and civilians participated in the conference. “The events and sessions allowed deeper mutual understanding of the development and employment of cutting-edge military capabilities. The conference, hosted by Chief of the Israeli General Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kohavi, was also a critical event in strengthening the cooperation between CENTCOM and the Israeli Defense Forces. “General Kurilla participated in working groups related to multidomain operations, AI-derived intel, the future of warfare, and other topics. He also observed a multidomain live fire involving data-centric AI-based targeting, civilian risk mitigation, mesh-networked drone swarms, unmanned robotic combat vehicles, man-machine teaming, air strikes, rocket and artillery fires, mortars, helicopters, and ground maneuvers.” *Portions of the image altered for security purposes

Sept. 15, 2022

Readout: CENTCOM Commander’s participation in IDF Innovation Conference, September 14 and 15

Colonel Joe Buccino, CENTCOM Communications Director: “Over the past two days, General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla participated in the International Israeli Defense Forces Operational Innovation Conference in Camp Dayan and the Tze’elim Israeli Defense Force Base. A total of 22 nations, 7 Chiefs of General Staff, the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and more than 2,000 Soldiers and civilians participated in the conference.

Sept. 14, 2022

Readout from CENTCOM Commander’s Visit to the Israeli border of the Gaza Strip on Sept. 13

TAMPA, Fla. From Colonel Joe Buccino, CENTCOM Spokesman: “Yesterday, General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited the Israeli border of the Gaza Strip. There, he met with leaders from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command and Gaza Division, the IDF forces charged with protecting communities near the Gaza border.

On September 12, General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to Amman, Jordan to observe Eager Lion 22, the tenth iteration of a biannual multinational training event, which began September 5th and continues through September 15th.

Sept. 13, 2022

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to Amman, Jordan to observe the tenth iteration of the multinational training event: Exercise Eager Lion 22, on Sept. 12, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. –General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to Amman, Jordan to observe the tenth iteration of the multinational training event: Exercise Eager Lion 22, on Sept. 12, 2022 Exercise Eager Lion 22, which began Sept. 4th and runs through Sept.15th includes more than 1,850 American troops training alongside over 2,250 Jordanian troops, as well and nearly 800 troops from 26 additional partner nations. The exercise includes ten CENTCOM partnered militaries: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited with Egyptian Minister of Defense General Mohamed Zaki, and Lieutenant-General Osama Askar, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces this week in Cairo. The leaders discussed mutual security concerns, to include methods to improve border security, opportunities to enhance partnered training for counterterror operations, and opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Egypt military partnership.

Sept. 12, 2022

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla visits with leadership from the Armed Forces of Egypt

TAMPA, Fla. – General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited with Egyptian Minister of Defense General Mohamed Zaki, and Lieutenant-General Osama Askar, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces this week in Cairo. The leaders discussed mutual security concerns, to include methods to improve border security, opportunities to enhance partnered training for counterterror operations, and opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Egypt military partnership.