U.S. Marines spar during a Martial Arts Course at a base in the Middle East. Training in hand-to-hand combat keeps warfighters' skills sharp while deployed.

🚫 CLAIM: The navy commander for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps recently claimed that U.S. forces have abandoned the Strait of Hormuz by moving hundreds of "kilometers" away. This is FALSE. ✅ FACT: U.S. forces deployed to the Middle East remain present and vigilant in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, as demonstrated by the CENTCOM commander this weekend. U.S. forces and regional partners control the international waterway — clearly not Iran.

U.S. Sailors refuel aircraft during flight operations aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). Every military mission success begins and ends with people.

An F-35C Lightning II lands on the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the aircraft carrier continues operations in the Arabian Sea.

Two U.S. Air Force A-10 aircraft patrol the skies over the Middle East during scheduled daytime flight operations.

A U.S. Air Force Airman watches F-16 fighter jets approach a KC-135 Stratotanker to refuel while flying over the Middle East.

U.S. Marines launch F-35C stealth fighter jets from a base in the Middle East during routine flight operations.

Today marks 100 days since CENTCOM forces resumed America's steel wall naval blockade against Iran. This effort has helped prevent Iran from exporting at least $25 billion worth of crude oil and constrained the IRGC's ability to fund proxy militias, criminal networks, and terrorism. There have been no exports or imports to Iran by sea except for the humanitarian aid U.S. forces have allowed.

An EA-18G Growler takes off from the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73). The aircraft carrier is supporting assigned missions including enforcement of America's steel wall blockade against Iranian ports and coastal areas.

U.S. Marines train with small unmanned aerial systems on the flight deck of USS Portland (LPD 27) as the ship sails in the Arabian Sea. As an innovation battle lab, CENTCOM fields a variety of emerging technologies to rapidly equip deployed service members with cutting edge capabilities.

U.S. Air Force Airmen prepare and launch an F-16 fighter jet during routine night operations from a base in the Middle East.

A U.S. Sailor signals an F-35C Lightning II as it prepares to take off from the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73).

A look back: In September 2025, CENTCOM announced the establishment of the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force - designed to accelerate the delivery of combat capabilities to warfighters.

USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) transits regional waters in support of the naval blockade against Iranian ports. As of Oct. 17, CENTCOM forces have redirected 138 commercial vessels to ensure strict compliance.

U.S. Air Force Airmen prepare a KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft for takeoff from a base in the Middle East.

U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets take off from a base in the Middle East during routine daytime operations.