Category: US CENTCOM

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Oct. 7, 2024

Release Number 20241007 – 01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A year ago today, on October 7, 2023, the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist organization brutally murdered over 1,200 innocent civilians, including more than 40 American citizens, and took 251 more innocent people hostage, including 12 Americans. This was the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history. We honor the memory of those killed and continue to work to secure the return of the hostages and our American citizens.

On October 5 and 6, I met with Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, as well as key members of the Israeli Defense Forces, operational units, and other Israeli national security leadership.

Minister Gallant and I discussed the current security situation in Israel, efforts to defend Israel, and efforts to further deter common threats. Lt. Gen. Halevi and his staff provided me with a situational assessment of Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1 that targeted Israel and resulted in the death of a Palestinian man in Jericho. We discussed ongoing Iranian-backed threats to the region and efforts to stabilize the region, ensure Israel’s security, and deter Iran’s malign and reckless activities.

Before departing, I reiterated the strength of our ironclad military-to-military commitment between CENTCOM and the Israeli Defense Forces. We will continue to consult with our Israeli partners about their defense and how to monitor and counter further threats like the one that took the lives of so many on Oct. 7.

On this day of remembrance, we honor the spirit of the people of Israel, we affirm our commitment to the return of the hostages, and we mourn the victims of Oct. 7.

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Sep. 30, 2024

Release Number 20240930 – 01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed six Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.  

It was determined these UAVs presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Sep. 29, 2024

Release Number 20240929 – 01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Forces conducted two targeted strikes in Syria, killing 37 terrorist operatives, including multiple senior leaders of the terrorist organizations of ISIS and Hurras al-Din, an Al Qaeda affiliate.

The airstrikes are part of CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.

On Sept. 24, CENTCOM Forces conducted a targeted strike in northwest Syria, killing nine terrorist operatives, including Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior Hurras al-Din leader responsible for overseeing military operations from Syria. Hurras al-Din is an Al Qaeda-affiliated organization based in Syria with global aspirations to conduct attacks against U.S. and Western interests. The successful strike against Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf comes a month after a successful strike that killed another Hurras al-Din senior leader, Abu-‘Abd al-Rahman al Makki.

Additionally, on the early morning of Sept. 16, CENTCOM forces conducted a large-scale airstrike on a remote ISIS training camp in central Syria, killing at least 28 ISIS operatives, including at least four senior leaders. The airstrike will disrupt ISIS’ capability to conduct operations against U.S. interests, as well as our allies and partners.

“These strikes against leadership and operatives of ISIS and the Al Qaeda affiliate, Hurras al-Din, represent CENTCOM’s commitment to the enduring defeat of terrorist organizations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility and our support to regional stability,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

There is no indication any civilians were harmed in either strike.

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Sep. 24, 2024

Release Number 20240924 – 01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle over the Red Sea.

It was determined this system presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Sept 20, 2024 

Release Number 20240920-01 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the Red Sea.

It was determined this system presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

 Sept 17, 2024 

Release Number 20240917-01 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) will host Innovation Oasis III, a service member-driven competition designed to recognize, elevate, and leverage the innovative ideas and proposals of service members from across the command in Tampa, Fla., Sept. 18. 

 

Innovation Oasis is a “Shark Tank”-like competition where service members and civilian government employees pitch and highlight their innovative ideas for potential official implementation within the combatant command. Eleven finalists for this year’s competition were selected from each service component and CENTCOM Headquarters. Finalists have 10 minutes to pitch their initiatives, followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers from a panel of judges. Finalists will be judged by originality, scalability of the concept, and overall presentation. The winner will be announced the same day, Sep. 18. 

 

“It’s imperative that we empower our people to innovate and look to the future; this year’s competition is part of our continuing effort to remain at the cutting edge of warfighting and identify new, novel ways to meet our command objectives,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command. “The Innovation Oasis event series enables our service members to share their ideas with the highest levels of Command leadership, nurturing a culture of innovation across the Command.”

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

 Sept 15, 2024 

Release Number 20240915-01 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 TAMPA, Fla. – In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one missile system in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. 

It was determined this system presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels. 

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Sept. 13, 2024
Release Number 20240913-03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed three uncrewed aerial vehicles and one support vehicle in Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Sept 13,2024

Release Number 20240913-02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – On Sept 7-10, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as well as the State of Israel, where he met with regional leaders and U.S. service members, receiving a first-hand assessment of the regional security situation.

On 7-8 Sept, Gen. Kurilla met with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti and key members of his staff in Jordan to discuss regional security concerns. Gen. Kurilla emphasized his appreciation for Jordan’s partnership toward regional security, and in particular for the Jordan Armed Forces’ leadership in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.  He reiterated his commitment to improving interoperability with the Jordanian Armed Forces and maintaining ready and responsive forces across the region. Gen. Kurilla also visited with U.S. Servicemembers.

On Sept. 8-10, Gen. Kurilla visited Israel where he met with Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, key members of the Israeli Defense Forces, several operational units and key national security agencies.

Gen. Kurilla and Minister Gallant discussed the strategic situation in the region and efforts to deter common threats. Gen. Kurilla’s discussion with Lt. Gen. Halevi focused on operational and strategic security challenges, regional cooperation, and efforts to bolster deterrence and counter threats in the Middle East.

“The strength of our relationships across the region is critical to our collective security,” said Gen. Kurilla. “CENTCOM is committed to providing the support necessary to address the threats that we face in the region.”

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Sept 13,2024

Release Number 202409013-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces and Iraqi Security Forces conducted a partnered raid in Western Iraq that resulted in the death of 14 ISIS operatives on 29 August. This operation targeted ISIS leaders and served to disrupt and degrade ISIS’ ability to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against Iraqi civilians, as well as U.S. citizens, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond.

As part of the on-going post-raid assessment, CENTCOM can confirm that four ISIS leaders were killed including: Ahmad Hamid Husayn Abd-al-Jalil al-Ithawi, responsible for all operations in Iraq, Abu Hammam, responsible for overseeing all operations in Western Iraq, Abu-‘Ali al-Tunisi, responsible for overseeing technical development, and Shakir Abud Ahmad al-Issawi, responsible for overseeing military operations in Western Iraq.

“CENTCOM remains committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS, who continues to threaten the United States, our allies and partners, and regional stability,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command.

Additional updates will be released as the post-raid assessment continues.