US Central Command plans to participate in Exercise Bright Star, the massive war game with Egypt and other coalition nations, for the first time in four years. Bright Start 05/06, set to kick off Saturday and run through Oct. 3, is the 12th in the series.
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.