Amid rising tensions with Iran, the United States is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the launch of a multi-day aerial readiness exercise, as well as the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier in the region.
Specifically, the Ninth Air Force—also known as Air Forces Central (AFCENT), which serves as CENTCOM’s air component—will conduct a “multi-day readiness exercise aimed at demonstrating the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility,” AFCENT said in a statement.
CENTCOM’s area of responsibility includes 21 countries, spanning Northeast Africa and the Middle East through Central and South Asia, according to the command’s official website.
During the exercise, U.S. forces will deploy teams to multiple locations, with the approval of host nations and in “close coordination with civilian and military aviation authorities,” CENTCOM stated.
The exercise is taking place one day after CENTCOM announced that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with its accompanying warships, has arrived in the Middle East.
