CENTCOM announces multi-day US Air Force drills in Middle East PHOTO

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced multi-day U.S. Air Force exercises within its area of responsibility in the Middle East.

The manoeuvres aim to practice deploying, dispersing, and supporting combat aviation, Caliber.Az reports, citing a CENTCOM post on X.

“U.S. Air Forces Central will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility,” the command said in an official statement.

The exercises come amid high tensions between the United States and Iran, and reports of possible U.S. strikes on the Islamic Republic in the near future.

On January 26, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and accompanying warships arrived in the Middle East, boosting U.S. military presence in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran. The carrier’s deployment includes fighter jets and destroyers, increasing U.S. readiness and military options as the situation evolves.

The likelihood of a strike is described by some commentators as “very high,” although timing and specifics remain uncertain.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that any direct military strike by the United States would be met with a powerful and “comprehensive” response against U.S. forces and interests in the region. This includes warnings from senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that U.S. bases and assets could become legitimate targets if attacked.

Iranian military spokespeople have also emphasised that Iranian defences are strong and prepared, suggesting that any aggression toward Iran would trigger a decisive counterattack.

Hezbollah, for its part, has publicly expressed concern over potential U.S. action against Iran, warning that any conflict could escalate regionally and that the group is monitoring the situation closely.

By Khagan Isayev