Gen. Tom Hobbins, head of US Air Forces in Europe, traveled to Mihail Kogalniceanu AB, Romania, Oct. 19-20 to visit with Romania military officials in anticipation of the new joint task force headquarters to be based at Mihail. Plans call for 100 US Air Force and US Army members. USAFE aircrews will use the facility to conduct aerial tactical training with their Romanian counterparts. During his visit, Hobbins commended the Romanian military, saying: “Romania has provided security in the Balkans, in Iraq, and Afghanistan. We have a good relationship working and training together.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.