U.S. Marines train with small unmanned aerial systems on the flight deck of USS Portland (LPD 27) as the ship sails in the Arabian Sea. As an innovation battle lab, CENTCOM fields a variety of emerging technologies to rapidly equip deployed service members with cutting edge capabilities.

U.S. Air Force Airmen prepare and launch an F-16 fighter jet during routine night operations from a base in the Middle East.

A U.S. Sailor signals an F-35C Lightning II as it prepares to take off from the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73).

A look back: In September 2025, CENTCOM announced the establishment of the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force - designed to accelerate the delivery of combat capabilities to warfighters.

USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) transits regional waters in support of the naval blockade against Iranian ports. As of Oct. 17, CENTCOM forces have redirected 138 commercial vessels to ensure strict compliance.

U.S. Air Force Airmen prepare a KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft for takeoff from a base in the Middle East.

U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets take off from a base in the Middle East during routine daytime operations.

Three FALSE Iranian claims in the past 24 hours: 🚫 CLAIM: The IRGC has continued to falsely claim control of the Strait of Hormuz. ✅ FACT: The United States and regional partners control the strait as commercial vessels continue to transit despite unwarranted IRGC aggression. 🚫 CLAIM: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed a Singapore-flagged container ship struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. This is FALSE. ✅ FACT: The civilian container ship M/V GFS Pride was hit by an IRGC projectile. The vessel sank while being towed to shore. Despite the attack, commercial ships continue to flow through the Strait of Hormuz (whose primary routes remain clear of mines), with more than 40 ships moving in the last 24 hours. 🚫 CLAIM: The IRGC claims they killed hundreds of U.S. service members in Jordan. This is FALSE. ✅ FACT: Three American service members were killed in action in July as partner forces defended against Iranian attacks. We honor the memories of all U.S. service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice and represent America's best.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) patrols the Arabian Sea following a recent visit to Thailand. The aircraft carrier's 5,000 crew members and embarked personnel currently continue to support CENTCOM operations in the Middle East during a scheduled deployment.

An MH-60R Sea Hawk lands on the flight deck of USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) as it transits regional waters.

On Oct. 6, U.S. forces destroyed an Iranian-affiliated dhow conducting surveillance and targeting U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman. Over the past seven months, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued to indiscriminately target thousands of civilian mariners transiting regional waters in addition to U.S. Navy warships. Crew members were safely removed prior to destruction of the dhow. Repatriation efforts are ongoing.

🚫 CLAIM: Iran's ambassador to the International Maritime Organization recently claimed that the U.S. military is using "threatening, abusive, and provocative language" against Iranian mariners and causing "serious stress and psychological pressure to civilian crews." This is FALSE. ✅ FACT: The highly successful U.S. blockade against Iran has been in place for months and professionally communicated. The only country attacking civilian mariners transiting regional waters is Iran. Despite these unjustified attacks, commercial traffic continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz with coordinated protection from U.S. forces and regional partners.

Did you know? U.S. Air Force Central Command's Task Force 99 introduces new drone and communication capabilities to warfighters in the Middle East. As a forward-deployed laboratory, the task force tests innovative concepts for enhancing combat effectiveness in the field.

🚫 CLAIM: The navy commander for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed today that the Strait of Hormuz is under IRGC control and any approaching U.S. Navy warships would be "sunk." ✅ FACT: IRGC's navy commander has no navy. American forces and regional partners clearly control the Strait of Hormuz. Just yesterday U.S. forces assisted Gulf partners in shipping more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the strait.

The USS George Washington (CVN 73) crew works as a team to receive, sort, and distribute more than 270 pallets of mail during a replenishment at sea, providing a vital connection to home for 5,000 service members on board.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker at night to refuel in the Middle East.