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Elite Special Forces from GCC and U.S. simulate a raid on hijacked tanker
KUWAIT - Elite military special operations forces from the Gulf Cooperation Council,  and the U.S. conducted a simulated rapid response to the hijacking of the motor tanker, or oil tanker, the Hadiyah, April 3, in Kuwait territorial waters. Special forces teams from the GCC, and U.S. Naval Special Warfare and rigid-hull inflatable boat teams simulated an air and sea-borne rapid insertion, search and seizure of the occupied tanker and its hijackers, and the safe release of the tanker crewmen. The raid was a cumulative joint exercise that tested the participants’ tactical skills and abilities to operate cohesively in an operational mission with our GCC partner nations. Exercise Eagle Resolve is the premier U.S. multilateral exercise within the Arabian Peninsula. Since 1999, Eagle Resolve has become the leading engagement between the U.S. and GCC nations to collectively address the regional challenges associated with asymmetric warfare in a low-risk setting.
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Tags: Marine Corps Forces, CMO, USAFCENT, CPX, United States Special Operations Command, ftx, Special Forces, Counterterrorism, Multilateral, Eagle Resolve, United Arab Emirates, Joint Force Headquarters, SOCCENT, Navy SEALs, Partner Nations, MARSOC, USCENTCOM, Air Assault, information operations, Kuwait, AFCENT, Potus, Bahrain, special operations command, U.S. embassy, Army Reserve, Gulf Cooperation Council, navcent, Logistics, Central Command, MARCENT, Strategic, Arabian Peninsula, GCC, uae, ODA, Mine Countermeasures, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Fast rope, Multilateral Exercise, Centcom, Saudi Arabia, Command and control, MacDill Air Force Base, EOD, arcent, sof, florida, Naval Special Warfare Command, Special Operations Forces, Interagency, Joint Task Force, usasoc, U.S. Air Forces, NSW, Exercise Eagle Resolve 2017, ER 2017, Gulf Region, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Cyber Defense, CWMD, Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction, Hybrid Threats, Crisis Management, Border Security, Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Threats, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Civil Military Operations, Regional Challenges, International Law, Direct Action, Mohammad Al-Ahmad Naval Base, Major General Ralph H. Groover III, Eagle Resolve 2017, Eagle Resolve 17, Exercise Eagle Resolve, United States Naval Special Warfare Command, Naval Surface Warfare, Motor Tanker (OIL) Hadiyah, Special Boat Teams, Freighter Hijacking, Special Warfare Combatant-Craft teams, SOF Raid, water-borne raid,  hijack,  hijack, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, defended objective, Naval Base, Operational Detachment Alpha, Asymmetric Threats, Brigadier General Robert Grey, United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, NAVSPECWAR, Naval Special Warfare Command (NSW)Partner Capability, Maritime Mobility and Access, Command post exercise, Camp Arifjan, swcc, pennsylvania air national guard, USSOCOM, Qatar, U.S. Central Command
Photo by: Master Sgt. Timothy Lawn |  VIRIN: 170403-A-WQ129-1076.JPG
Photo Gallery
Multinational Forces Conduct Simulated Raid and Emergency Response During Bright Star
B-roll video consists of multinational paratroopers conducting an airborne insertion followed by a simulated raid during BRIGHT STAR 25, Mohamed Naguib Military Base (MNMB), Egypt, Sept. 8, 2025. The scenario included a simulated terrorist attack with explosions, mortars, urban combat drills, rappelling operations, and a chemical-clearing exercise. Multinational forces worked alongside emergency responders provide humanitarian relief supplies, and extinguish fires as part of the training. BRIGHT STAR is a biennial, multinational exercise that strengthens regional security and military interoperability. (U.S. Army B-roll by Sgt. Samuel DeAngelo)
Amphibious Assault Demonstration Showcases Coalition Power at BRIGHT STAR 25
B-roll video features an amphibious assault demonstration led by the Egyptian military with participation from Italian forces during a training exercise, near Mohamed Naguib Military Base (MNMB), Egypt, Sept. 10, 2025. The exercise included coordinated maneuvers with paratroopers, Apache helicopters, armored vehicles, explosions, and convoy operations across multiple areas of attack. Amphibious landing ships lowered their ramps to deploy trucks and equipment directly onto the shoreline while tanks provided suppressive fire and attack helicopters supported counter-assault operations. The demonstration highlighted the scale and complexity of coalition capabilities during BRIGHT STAR 25. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Samuel DeAngelo)
CENTCOM Urges Nations to Repatriate Displaced and Detained People from Syria
Delivering remarks at the United Nations headquarters last Friday, Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, urged nations with displaced and detained citizens in Syria to repatriate them, announcing the establishment of a Joint Repatriation Cell in northeast Syria to help coordinate their return. --------------- Keep up with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on social media. X (Twitter): https://x.com/CENTCOM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CENTCOM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uscentcom/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-central-command-uscentcom Threads: https://www.threads.com/@uscentcom U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) website: https://www.centcom.mil/
NSA Bahrain Harbor Patrol Unit Drills
A 33-foot Force Protection-Medium (FP-M) Harbor Security Boat (HSB), attached to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, responds to a small boat probe attack during a force protection drill, Sept. 29, 2025. Force Protection drills are critical to reinforce and refine pre-planned responses and standard operating procedures in response to various potential threats. NSA Bahrain enables the forward operations and responsiveness of U.S. and allied forces in support of the Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central mission to provide services to the fleet, warfighter and family. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Bryan Blair)
U.S. Army Central trains with Jordanian partners at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Louisiana
Last week, U.S. Army Central trained alongside Jordanian partners in the United States at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Louisiana. U.S forces across CENTCOM are at our best when training shoulder to shoulder with partners.
Red Sands 25 in Saudi Arabia
U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) and the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces conducted the fourth iteration of the Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center at the Shamal 2 Range near the King Khalid Military Center in northern Saudi Arabia Sept. 7-18, 2025. This exercise represented the culmination of rapid prototyping and integrated defensive tactics developed since the inaugural U.S.-Saudi experimental demonstration in 2023.
Red Sands 25 in Saudi Arabia
U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) and the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces conducted the fourth iteration of the Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center at the Shamal 2 Range near the King Khalid Military Center in northern Saudi Arabia Sept. 7-18, 2025. This exercise represented the culmination of rapid prototyping and integrated defensive tactics developed since the inaugural U.S.-Saudi experimental demonstration in 2023.
Bilateral Maritime Exercise Infinite Defender 25
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 17, 2025) U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Maritime Engagement Team and members of the Jordanian Armed Forces participate in a simulated visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operation aboard Royal Jordanian Naval Forces vessels in the Gulf of Aqaba, Sept. 17, 2025, during exercise INFINITE DEFENDER 25. INFINITE DEFENDER 25 is an annual, bilateral explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security exercise between U.S. 5th Fleet and the Royal Jordanian Navy to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hans Williams)
Bilateral Maritime Exercise Infinite Defender 25
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 17, 2025) U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Maritime Engagement Team and members of the Jordanian Armed Forces participate in a simulated visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operation aboard a Royal Jordanian Naval Forces vessel in the Gulf of Aqaba, Sept. 17, 2025, during exercise INFINITE DEFENDER 25. INFINITE DEFENDER 25 is an annual, bilateral explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security exercise between U.S. 5th Fleet and the Royal Jordanian Navy to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hans Williams)
BRIGHT STAR 25: USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon Sortie - ‘CZAR’
B-roll package includes a combination of take off, aerial maneuvers, and landing cockpit footage, varying from natural speed to 1.5x and 4x natural speed, both in horizontal and vertical orientation, featuring U.S. Air Force Capt. Matthew ‘CZAR’ Szabo, 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, during BRIGHT STAR 25 at Cairo West Air Base, Egypt, Sept. 10, 2025. BRIGHT STAR 25 enhances joint readiness and reinforces partner nations’ ability to integrate seamlessly in complex operational environments. By aligning tactics, techniques and procedures, U.S. and partner forces increase their capacity to deter aggression, improving lethality, confidence and cohesion among multinational service members. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Kevin Dunkleberger)