US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday that its aerial forces will conduct a multi-day readiness exercise “to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the US Central Command area of responsibility,” in the shadow of a potential major attack on the Iranian regime.
Although CENTCOM said that the “exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for flexible response execution throughout CENTCOM,” military parties have used such drills in the past as cover for launching a surprise attack on an adversary.
The Trump administration has been weighing striking Iran’s regime since protests started there on December 28, with it moving an array of forces to the region when the ayatollahs started killing large numbers of protesters. The US Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln reached the region on Monday.
Further, while CENTCOM stated the drill would “serve as a way for AFCENT (air forces of CENTCOM) to validate procedures for rapid movement of personnel and aircraft; dispersed operations at contingency locations; logistics sustainment with a minimal footprint; and integrated, multi-national command and control over a large area of operations,” the operation also might be designed to publicly pressure the Iranian regime into some kind of deal or concessions desired by the Trump administration.
“Our Airmen are proving they can disperse, operate, and generate combat sorties under demanding conditions – safely, precisely and alongside our partners,” said Lt. Gen. Derek France, AFCENT commander and Combined Forces Air Component commander for CENTCOM, with the drill also boosting the ability of the US to work with Israel and America’s Sunni Arab partners on defense should Washington attack Tehran and should the ayatollahs then counter-attack American allies and bases in the region.
Lt. Gen. France said, “This is about upholding our commitment to maintaining combat-ready Airmen and the disciplined execution required to keep airpower available when and where it’s needed.”
During the training event, CENTCOM said that US forces “will deploy teams to multiple contingency locations and validate rapid set-up, launch, and recovery procedures with small, efficient support packages. AFCENT will conduct all activities with host-nation approval and in close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities, emphasizing safety, precision, and respect for sovereignty.”
“By continually practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures in a rapidly evolving air domain, the US Air Force underscores its commitment to regional defense and security alongside partner nations. This exercise reinforces peace through strength by fielding a credible, combat-ready, and responsible presence designed to deter aggression, reduce the risk of miscalculation, and assure partners,” said CENTCOM.
CENTCOM conducts joint drill with Bahrain
CENTCOM also posted a joint drill with Bahrain, shooting down drone threats, a threat that Iran might pose to Bahrain.
"By continually practicing tactics, techniques and procedures in a rapidly evolving air domain, the U.S. Air Force underscores its commitment to regional defense and security alongside partner nations. This exercise reinforces peace through strength by fielding a credible, combat-ready, and responsible presence designed to deter aggression, reduce the risk of miscalculation and assure partners," said CENTCOM.