US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement on Saturday after its commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, completed a 10-day trip to the Middle East that included visits to six countries, including Israel, and to a US Navy aircraft carrier operating in the Arabian Sea.
According to the statement, Cooper met with senior civilian and military leaders in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates and spent time with deployed US service members. CENTCOM noted that more than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East supporting various missions.
“While ashore, Cooper recognized exceptional performers, reenlisted troops, and presided over the leadership transition for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). Maj. Gen. Kevin Lambert turned over command of CJTF-OIR to Rear Adm. Liam Hulin, Aug. 11, during a ceremony at the task force's headquarters in Jordan," it said.
“While at sea," continued the CENTCOM statement, “Cooper met with Sailors and Marines aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for the second time this year. He previously visited the aircraft carrier in February with US Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner."
Cooper “addressed the entire Lincoln team and thanked them for their tremendous dedication and courage. He also met with junior service members and awarded deserving individuals," the statement continued.
Commenting on his trip, Cooper stated, "The Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is a strong team of high-achieving Americans standing tall with immense, justified pride in everything they accomplished. History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era."
Based in San Diego, Abraham Lincoln departed for deployment in November and arrived in the Middle East in January. The strike group has successfully conducted thousands of combat flights in support of Operation Epic Fury, regional security missions, and the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran.