CENTCOM chief ends 10-day West Asia tour amid US-Iran tensions

Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper concluded a 10-day trip to West Asia on August 15, visiting six countries and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, the command said. The tour included Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where Cooper met senior civilian and military leaders. More than 50,000 US service members are deployed across West Asia, CENTCOM added.

The trip came as the US maintains a naval blockade on Iran and both nations contest control of the Strait of Hormuz. During the maritime leg, Cooper addressed sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, praising their "tremendous dedication and courage." The carrier is set to return to the US after an extended deployment of over 250 days, Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao said, amid reports of low morale and mental health concerns among the crew.

Cooper also presided over the command transition of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in Jordan, where Major General Kevin Lambert handed over to Rear Admiral Liam Hulin. Cao stated the carrier had "crushed their deployment" and would return home soon as part of a planned rotation.