Gen. Joseph Votel, U. S. Central Command commander, speaks at a commander’s call at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Feb. 23, 2017. US Air Force Photo
A range of competing interests in the Middle East are creating multiple complex situations for U.S. Central Command to navigate, CENTCOM commander Army Gen. Joseph Votel testified today. Read More
Members of the Royal Land Forces.
The United States might soon be exercising “tough love” with its partners in the Middle East to get focus on where it needs to be in defeating the Islamic State and addressing other regional security needs, Army Gen. Joseph Votel said during his confirmation hearing to become Central Command’s top officer. Read More
Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis testifies at a hearing of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 18, 2014. Stars and Stripes Photo
Because the United States lacks a global strategy, “volatility is going to get to the point that chaos threatens,” a former Central Command (CENTCOM) commander told a Heritage Foundation audience Wednesday. Read More
An aircraft believed to be an Iranian F-4 Phantom II operating over eastern Iraq. Al Jazerra image.
This post has been amended from a previous version to include additional information from U.S. Central Command.
Iran is denying it has flown airstrikes in Iraq targeting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) despite Pentagon claims at least some Iranian strikes in Iraq have occurred. Read More
F-16 Falcon. US Air Force Photo
The Pentagon has identified the U.S. Air Force F-16 Falcon pilot who was killed in a Sunday crash somewhere in the Middle East, according to a statement released by the service. Read More
An U.S. Air Force pilot was killed following a crash of a F-16 Falcon fighter somewhere in the Middle East on Sunday, according to a Monday release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Read More
General John Allen stands as Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta makes the announcement that Allen has been nominated to become the new Supreme Allied Commander in Belgium in October. DoD Photo
Statement from the President on General John Allen
Today, I met with General John Allen and accepted his request to retire from the military so that he can address health issues within his family. Read More
Rear Adm. Kevin Sweeney, commander of the Harry S. Truman Strike Group, addresses the media on the pier alongside the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) on Wednesday. US Navy Photo
Looming budget restrictions means the U.S. Navy will reduce the American presence in U.S. Central Command from two aircraft carriers to one for the immediate future, a defense official told USNI News on Wednesday.
A deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), planned for later in February, has been delayed to preserve operating a carrier in the Middle East well into 2014, the official said.
