Statements

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.

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited troops from the Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) mission on the Sinai Peninsula, Sept. 10, 2022.

Sept. 10, 2022

Commander, U.S. Central Command, visits troops on the Sinai Peninsula, Sept. 10

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited troops from the Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) mission on the Sinai Peninsula, Sept. 10, 2022.

The SDF mission to clear ISIS from the camp continues. This is a critical, wide-ranging operation which will make the camp safer for all residents. We’ve already seen ISIS members holding women and girls enslaved in chains inside the camp, torturing camp residents, and seeking to spread their vile ideology. Most of the residents seek to escape ISIS, but ISIS sees the camp as a captive audience for its message and recruitment efforts. It is therefore urgent that we repatriate residents back to their countries of origin and rehabilitate them if needed.

Sept. 9, 2022

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla on visiting the al-Hol Camp on Sept. 9

TAMPA, Fla. – First, U.S. Central Command sends its condolences to the families of the two members of the Syrian Democratic Forces killed in a firefight with ISIS in the al-Hol camp on September 8th. I expressed this directly to the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces at the camp. The SDF face danger in their effort to clear ISIS from this site and our thoughts are with their fellow SDF troops.

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowksi, met with the Iraqi Chief of Staff of the Army Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah in Baghdad, on Sept. 8. The leaders discussed the security situation in Baghdad, the effort to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, and recent progress made in expanding the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces.

Sept. 9, 2022

GEN Kurilla meets with Iraqi Chief of Staff of the Army on Sept. 8, 2022

Statement from Colonel Joe Buccino, U.S. Central Command communications director: General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowksi, met with the Iraqi Chief of Staff of the Army Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah in Baghdad, on Sept. 8. The leaders discussed the security situation in Baghdad, the effort to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, and recent progress made in expanding the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces.

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, met with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government in Erbil, Iraq, on Sept. 8. The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, to include the ongoing clearing operations in the al-Hol internal displaced persons camp and CENTCOM’s commitment to the enduring defeat of ISIS.

Sept. 9, 2022

GEN Kurilla meets with Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government

Statement from Colonel Joe Buccino, U.S. Central Command communications director: General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, met with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government in Erbil, Iraq, on Sept. 8. The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, to include the ongoing clearing operations in the al-Hol internal displaced persons camp and CENTCOM’s commitment to the enduring defeat of ISIS.

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, , commander of U.S. Central Command, met with Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Khadima in Baghdad, on Sept 8. The leaders discussed Iraqi security issues of mutual concern. The topics included the ongoing coalition effort towards the enduring defeat of ISIS, opportunities to bolster U.S.-Iraqi military partnership, and the urgent need to repatriate and rehabilitate Iraqi residents of the al-Hol internal displaced persons camp.

Sept. 9, 2022

GEN Kurilla meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Khadimi on Sept. 8, 2022.

Statement from Colonel Joe Buccino, U.S. Central Command communications director: General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, met with Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Khadima in Baghdad, on Sept 8. The leaders discussed Iraqi security issues of mutual concern. The topics included the ongoing coalition effort towards the enduring defeat of ISIS, opportunities to bolster U.S.-Iraqi military partnership, and the urgent need to repatriate and rehabilitate Iraqi residents of the al-Hol internal displaced persons camp.

Sept. 8, 2022

Statement regarding CENTCOM support and USAID aid to Pakistan

United States Central Command is transporting humanitarian commodities from USAID's warehouse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan to meet the immediate needs of people affected by the floods. C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft will transport the supplies over the course of the coming days on approximately 20 different flights.

Sept. 7, 2022

Statement regarding Syrian Democratic Forces conducting security operations in al-Hol camp

Statement from Colonel Joe Buccino, CENTCOM communications director: For the past two weeks, Syrian Democratic Forces have been conducting security operations in al-Hol displaced persons camp, resulting in the arrest of dozens of ISIS operatives and the dissolution of a major ISIS facilitation network both within the camp and throughout Syria. Additionally, the SDF liberated four women in the camp who were found in tunnels, chained and tortured by ISIS supporters on September 5th, 2022.

Aug. 30, 2022

Statement regarding the one-year anniversary of the end of the war in Afghanistan

Today, the one-year anniversary of the end of the war in Afghanistan, we honor all those who bore the burden of America's longest war. That burden was carried by more than 775,000 American troops who deployed to fight in Afghanistan over the course of two decades. 2,461 were killed in that war. More than 20,000 were injured.

Aug. 25, 2022

Readout of U.S. Central Command Commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla's meeting with Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz

TAMPA, Fla. — On Thursday, August 25, CENTCOM commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the U.S. Central Command Headquarters to discuss security issues of mutual interest.