A change approved during Trump’s final days shifted Israel out of US military’s European Command sphere and into the wider net of Central Command allowed for greater regional collaboration against Iran.
“Israel’s move into Centcom was a game changer,” making it easier to share intelligence and provide early warning across countries, said Dana Stroul, who until Dec was the most senior civilian official at the Pentagon with responsibility for the ME’.
With a nod to Israel’s increasingly normalized relations with the Arab world, the Pentagon is reorganizing its global command structure to include the Jewish state in the military sphere managed by US Central Command, which includes other Middle East countries.
The move will allow for greater collaboration against Iran, the primary regional foe of Israel, the US and some Arab countries.
Israel for decades had been in the sphere of European Command because of its generally hostile relations with many Arab countries, a condition that was viewed as making it difficult for Central Command (CENTCOM) to do business with both Israel and the Arab world.
Central Command’s area of responsibility stretches across the Middle East to Central Asia, including the Persian Gulf region as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
President Donald Trump ordered the shift.
The Times of Israel, 1/16/2021
“A few years ago the Pentagon shifted Israel from its European Command to Central Command, which includes the rest of the Middle East, a move that enabled greater military cooperation with Arab governments under U.S. auspices.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) April 15, 2024
“Israel’s move into Centcom was a game changer,”… https://t.co/xjqikg6aq9
The IDF reported that Israeli air defenses intercepted about 99% of the approximately 300 air targets launched by Iran at Israel overnight. According to Al Arabiya, the US and UK militaries reportedly shot down about 100 Iranian drones, and Jordanian air defense forces also engaged targets over Amman.
The Israeli Defense Forces as well as their allies from the USA, UK and Jordan eliminated 99% of all incoming drones and missiles, almost all way before entering Israeli air space.
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) April 14, 2024
The following statement was issued by the Israeli Defense Forces:
“Iran launched approximately… pic.twitter.com/C75qJ4sGms
Israeli officials are praising US Central Command for supporting efforts to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones over the weekend. During a briefing today an Israeli air force official indicated that preparations to defend against such an attack were ongoing for months. pic.twitter.com/RGNnIz6Obb
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) April 15, 2024
Defense of Israel Activities Update
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 14, 2024
On April 13 and the morning of April 14, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by U.S. European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six… pic.twitter.com/QYyk01o1Vs
UK RAF
Royal Air Force fighter jets and refuelling aircraft were also involved, taking off from bases in Cyprus. Their role, according to the Ministry of Defence, was to fill in for the US Air Force in the sorties against the Islamic State normally carried out over Iraq and north-eastern Syria, but also to intercept Iranian drones if they came into the UK area of operations.
“In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks,” a defence ministry statement said.
Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime minister was both praised for assisting an ally and disparaged for appearing to care more about foreign countries’ borders than his own.
‘The action we took, has helped stop that escalation because the Iran attack was an almost total failure.’ Foreign secretary and former prime minister David Cameron speaks on the importance of the UK’s involvement in shooting down the Iranian drones headed to Israel