Amid rising tensions with Iran, the United States is beefing up its military presence in the Middle East. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the holding of a multi-day air readiness exercise, as well as the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier to the region.
Specifically, the Ninth Air Force, also known as Air Forces Central (AFCENT) and constituting the air component of CENTCOM, will conduct a "multi-day readiness exercise aimed at demonstrating the ability to deploy, distribute, and sustain combat air power throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility," the AFCENT announcement states.
CENTCOM's area of responsibility includes 21 countries, from Northeast Africa and the Middle East to Central and South Asia, according to the command's official website.
During the training activity, US forces will deploy teams to several locations, with the approval of host countries and in "close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities," CENTCOM announced.
The exercise takes place a day after CENTCOM announced that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with accompanying warships, has arrived in the Middle East.
