Middle East

Military news from the Middle East.

Latest in Middle East

A U.S. Army Soldier, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), pulls security from the top of a humvee during a training exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center on Fort Polk, Louisiana, Aug. 23, 2025. JRTC is designed to improve unit readiness through force-on-force exercises that prepare Soldiers for missions they may be assigned in real-world operations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Mariah Aguilar)

Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division are headed back to the Middle East

By Patty Nieberg

Posted Yesterday

Image: U.S. Air Force Capt. Josiah Bierle, 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, awaits takeoff in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 30, 2025. Stationing A-10s in the CENTCOM AOR reinforces U.S. commitment to regional stability and strengthens deterrence against potential threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonah Bliss)

An A-10 Warthog named ‘Diddy Kong’ is operating in the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 26, 2026

F-15s in Middle East

F-15 squadron that took out Iranian drones returns to the Middle East

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jan 21, 2026

Image: U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Jan. 10, 2026) U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II prepare to taxi at base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike, Jan. 10, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Airstrike kills militant leader linked to ambush on US soldiers in Syria

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 17, 2026

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2025) A U.S. Air Force chaplain prays over an A-10 Thunderbolt II at a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 19, 2025. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

An A-10 taking part in Syria airstrikes sports ‘Metroid’ nose art

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 12, 2026

Image: U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Jan. 10, 2026) A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis at a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike, Jan. 10, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)

US, Jordanian air forces conduct dozens of airstrikes in Syria against ISIS

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 10, 2026

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2025) A U.S. Airman prepares an A-10 Thunderbolt II for flight from a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 19, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike. (U.S. Air Force photo)

US forces launch strikes on ISIS in Syria in retaliation for the death of 2 soldiers

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 19, 2025

Iowa National Guardsmen killed in Syria

Army identifies 2 Iowa National Guardsmen killed in Syria attack

By Nicholas Slayton, Jeff Schogol

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Special Operations and the US-led anti-jihadist coalition, take part in heavy-weaponry military exercises in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, on March 25, 2022. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Two US soldiers killed in ambush in Syria

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 13, 2025

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach presents the Silver Star Medal to Lt. Col. William Parks during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., Nov. 26, 2025. Parks also received the Bronze Star Medal during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stuart Bright)

Air Force F-16 pilot awarded Silver Star for actions in the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Nov 28, 2025

Garrett Illerbrunn, center, and Lorna Illerbrun, kneeling, surrounded by friends and pilots from their former units at Garrett's retirement ceremony in early October. Garrett was severly wounded in a 2023 drone attack in Iraq.

An 82nd Airborne pilot took his final flight two years after Iraq drone attack

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 24, 2025

Soldiers of the 10th Mountain 2nd Brigade Combat team faced an unprecedented campaign of drone attacks during a deployment to Iraq and Syria in the fall of 2023.

An Army brigade’s trial by fire against Iranian drones

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 23, 2025

al-Asad air base attack

In reversal, at least 250 US troops will remain at Iraq air base

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Oct 20, 2025

A US soldier gives the thumbs-up as an Israeli digger attempts to extricate a US military vessel (not pictured) that ran aground at a beach in the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod on May 25, 2024. The US military said four of its vessels, supporting a temporary pier built to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, had run aground in heavy seas. (Photo by Oren Ziv / AFP) (Photo by OREN ZIV/AFP via Getty Images)

US to send 200 troops to monitor Gaza ceasefire

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Oct 10, 2025

U.S. Army Infantrymen, assigned to 10th Mountain Division, Task Force ARMADILLO, oversee M240B machine gun training in Syria, June 2, 2025. Night range operations provide a tactical advantage over adversaries, enhancing operational and soldier readiness. The Coalition is committed to building partner capacity and capabilities in order to maintain the lasting defeat of ISIS. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Trenton Pallone)

US forces kill ISIS commander in charge of international attacks

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Sep 19, 2025

241102-N-AB116-7104 U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 2, 2024) Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, speaks to Sailors while touring the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). (Official U.S. Navy photo)

Admiral who led Red Sea fight tapped to head Navy’s European operations

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Sep 19, 2025