President Obama has nominated Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Thomas to lead US Special Operations Command, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Feb. 29. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace Gen. Joseph Votel, who will take command of US Central Command from retiring Gen. Lloyd Austin. Thomas currently serves as commander of Joint Special Operations Command and would receive his fourth star if confirmed. He is a career special operator, having served as an operations officer and squadron commander in the Army’s Delta Force, and also as the associate director of the Central Intelligence Agency for military affairs.
A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes in the Middle East are flying with fresh modifications as the Air Force looks to make the plane more versatile amid America’s ongoing blockade of Iranian ports and a tenuous ceasefire in the U.S. air war against Iran.