CENTCOM

US changes Gaza Civil-Military Coordination Center leadership as Trump pursues stage II of plan

The top military officer at the CMCC is expected to be replaced by a commander of lower rank, while the top civilian has returned has returned to his job as US ambassador to Yemen.

|ByREUTERS
US AND Israeli soldiers convene at the Civil Military Coordination Centre, the US-led centre overseeing the implementation of President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel November 17, 2025.
A US Airman attaches a GBU-31 munitions system to an F-15E Strike Eagle in the US Central Command area of responsibility, December 19, 2025, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike as the US military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria.

CENTCOM announces air force readiness exercise amid growing Iran tensions

Although CENTCOM said that the "exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability," military parties have used such drills in the past as cover for launching a surprise attack.

|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
CENTCOM's Adm. Brad Cooper meets with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on January 24, 2026.

CENTCOM, IDF chiefs meet in shadow of possible Iran conflict, await Trump's final decision

The IDF announced on Sunday that the two had met on Saturday, showing "the personal connection between the commanders, and the tight strategic connection between the IDF and the US military."

|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrive before President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are slated to speak at the White House in September 2025.

Trump envoys Kushner, Witkoff meet Netanyahu to discuss Gaza, Iran

Senior US officials said ahead of the meeting that Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Israel to meet with Netanyahu in order to review the key issues related to Gaza.

|ByAMICHAI STEIN

US to complete transfer of Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq in coming days, official says

The US military is transferring up to 7,000 ISIS detainees from Syrian prisons to Iraq, focusing on high-risk fighters amid growing security concerns following recent prison escapes.

JANUARY 23, 2026ByREUTERS
Children and women, relatives of suspected Islamic State jihadists, walk inside Al-Hol camp in the desert region of Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province on January 21, 2026; illustrative.

Trump's Iran strategy: US prepares decisive action as tensions rise in the Middle East

US President Donald Trump is keeping "all options on the table" while US forces assemble in the Middle East.

JANUARY 22, 2026ByAMICHAI STEIN
U.S. President Donald Trump walks during the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2026.

CENTCOM says up to 7,000 ISIS detainees could be moved to Iraq from Syria

"Ultimately, up to 7,000 ISIS detainees could be transferred from Syria to Iraqi-controlled facilities," CENTCOM said.

JANUARY 21, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
U.S. soldiers attached to the Iowa National Guard sign GBU-31 munitions systems in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Dec. 18, 2025 as the U.S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria in retaliation for an attack on U.S. personnel.

US withdraws from Iraq’s Ain al-Asad Airbase, maintains presence in Kurdistan region

An initial plan for US withdrawal from the base stipulated that hundreds of troops would leave by September 2025, with the rest departing by the end of 2026.

JANUARY 19, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Military vehicles of US soldiers are seen at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, January 13, 2020.

'All options on the table': US boosts presence in Middle East as Iran strike remains possibility

Netanyahu on Sunday convened several ministers within the senior defense echelon to discuss recent developments in the region. Israeli officials believe that a "US strike on Iran is still an option."

JANUARY 18, 2026ByAMICHAI STEIN
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is shown at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, US, August 11, 2025

Egypt joins Jordan, UAE as third Arab country to visit American CMCC base in Kiryat Gat - KAN

The CMCC was established in October 2025 to shift responsibility for managing the ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and planning for the future of the Gaza Strip.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM
US, Israeli, and international experts work in groups at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, which opened in mid-October to oversee and support early implementation of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for stabilizing and rehabilitating Gaza.

Kurdish commander calls on US to 'intervene forcefully' in Syria clashes

The head of the YPG warned that only the US or its coalition partners can halt Syria’s advance into Kurdish-held territory, as government forces seize key towns and energy sites.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByREUTERS, JAMES GENN
Members of the Kurdish Internal Security Forces known as "Asayish", and residents rally during a demonstration against the attacks by the Syrian government forces and in support of Kurdish fighters in Qamishli, the main Kurdish city in the country's northeast on January 18, 2026.

Syria's power struggle: Who controls what, and why fighting continues - analysis

For some commentators, the current conflict in Syria boils down to the new Syrian government attacking Kurdish forces. While this is correct in some ways, it is also very simplistic.

JANUARY 18, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A group of civilians carry bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026

Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln en route to Middle East as US mulls over Iran strike options

The moves, reported since late Friday, came as US officials and regional militaries coordinated on contingency planning for possible Iranian retaliation.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByAMIR BOHBOT
An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Pacific Ocean August 10, 2024

Where are the American bases in the Middle East Iran threatened it might strike? - explainer

Trump warned Iran that if it retaliated against the US, the US would respond at levels “never seen before.”

JANUARY 14, 2026ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Qatar Emiri Air Force personnel load aid onto a military cargo plane headed to Syria, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, December 30, 2024.