The Senate on July 10 confirmed Army Gen. David Petraeus as commander of US Central Command and Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno for promotion to general to succeed Petraeus as head of Multinational Force-Iraq. Petraeus assumed command of MNF-I in February 2007 and is the architect of the US surge of forces. He replaces Adm. William “Fox” Fallon who resigned in March just one year into his assignment amid rumors that he resisted a White House desire to pursue military action against Iran’s nuclear program. Odierno is commanding general of the Army’s 3rd Corps commander and has led Multinational Corps-Iraq since December 2006. (Includes American Forces Press Service report by Jim Garamone)
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.