U.S. Navy warships and aircraft transit the Arabian Sea in close formation as CENTCOM forces continue to promote regional security and stability, June 30, 2026. (U.S. Navy video)
Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, and senior military officials from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, discuss the current regional security environment and opportunities for enhancing defense collaboration during a regional security dialogue hosted by the Bahrain Defense Force, July 1, 2026. (U.S. Central Command Public Affairs photo)
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft releases flares in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility May 31, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt Tiffany A. Emery)
U.S. Army paratroopers conduct small arms training with the M4 carbine during a live-fire range in the Middle East. Such training helps Soldiers improve weapons proficiency, accuracy, and weapons handling skills in a variety of conditions. (U.S. Army photo)
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed its largest training exercise with central and south Asian nations, June 12, 2026. More than 350 military personnel from 10 countries and 10 U.S. National Guard units participated. The two-week event built relationships and fostered trust among partners. (U.S. Central Command Public Affairs video)
U.S. National Guardsmen and partner soldiers from Central and South Asia review shot groupings during M4 carbine familiarization training at Fort Harrison, Montana, June 3, 2026, as part of exercise Regional Cooperation 2026. Regional Cooperation 2026 is an annual, multinational U.S. Central Command-sponsored command-post, field training and cyber defense exercise conducted by U.S. National Guard units in partnership with nations from Central and South Asia, and other participating nations. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Ackah-Mensah)
U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/T Celestial Sea, an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker suspected of attempting to violate the U.S. blockade by transiting toward an Iranian port, May 20, in the Gulf of Oman. American forces released the vessel after searching and directing the ship’s crew to alter course. U.S. forces continue to fully enforce the blockade and have now redirected 91 commercial ships to ensure compliance. (U.S. Central Command Video)
An F-35B Lighting II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 13, 2026. Tripoli is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)
U.S. Marines with Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rappel out of an MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 25, during helicopter and roping sustainment training aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 8, 2026. Tripoli is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)
U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/V Blue Star III, a commercial ship suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, in the Arabian Sea, April 28, 2026. U.S. forces released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming the ship’s voyage would not include an Iranian port call. (U.S. Central Command Video)
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) sails in the Indian Ocean in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 23, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)
U.S. Marines depart amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transit over the Arabian Sea to board and seize M/V Touska. The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from U.S. forces over a six-hour period. (U.S. Central Command Video)
U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19.
U.S. Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, engages with troops during an awards presentation at a base in the Middle East. Cooper visited troops to answer questions and recognize their achievements in their continued efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Amanda Dunford)
U.S. Airmen conduct B-2 Spirit aircraft operations at a base in the U.S. Strategic Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Epic Fury, April 2, 2026. (U.S. Air Force video)

U.S. Central Command Photo Gallery

School of Infantry NCO II achieves Initial Operating Capability
يقوم مدربون عراقيون من مدرسة المشاة الثانية لضباط الصف بتدريب جنود الجيش العراقي على الطرقة الصحيحة لتفكيك وتجميع مدفع رشاش نوع م240ب ومدفع رشاش خفيف نوع م249 في معسكر التاجي، العراق، في 19 آذار 2019. يخضع الجنود لإشراف مدربي الجيش الأسترالي من فريق المهام تاجي 8 ، وهو فريق مهام مشترك أسترالي ونيوزيلندي يعمل على تدريب قوات الأمن العراقية من أجل تحقيق الإستقرار في المناطق التي تم تطهيرها من داعش. يقدم التحالف المشورة والدعم لقوات الأمن العراقية في سبع مجالات أمنية رئيسية: السياسة الأمنية والعمليات الأمنية والتدريب والإدامة والإستخبارات ومكافحة الإرهاب والملاحة الجوية. لقد حقّقت مدرسة المشاة الثانية لضباط الصف التابعة للجيش العراقي مؤخراً القدرة التشغيلية الأولية، ممّا يعني أنّ المدرسة يمكنها أداء 75 بالمائة من مهامها دون الحاجة الى مساعدة التحالف Iraqi instructors from the 2nd Non-Commission Officer School of Infantry train Iraqi army soldiers on the proper way to strip and assemble the M240B machine gun and the M249 light machine gun at Camp Taji, Iraq, Mar. 19, 2019. The soldiers are under the supervision of Australian army trainers from Task Group Taji 8, which is a combined Australian-New Zealand Task Group that provides the Iraqi Security Forces with training to enable the stabilization of areas cleared of Daesh. The Coalition advises and assists the Iraqi Security forces in seven key security functions: security policy, security operations, training, sustainment, intelligence, counterterrorism and aviation. The Iraqi Army School of Infantry NCO 2 recently achieved initial operating capability, meaning that the school can perform 75 percent of its operations without Coalition assistance.