The Senate late Thursday voted Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis in as head of US Central Command. Mattis will now oversee the US military’s efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, filling the void left by the departure of Army Gen. David Petraeus at the end of June. Petraeus left CENTCOM to take charge of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan after Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal was removed from that position. Mattis has led US Joint Forces Command since November 2007. According to press reports, Mattis’ approval came via voice vote in the Senate chamber Thursday evening. (For more, see AFP report and AFPS report by Donna Miles.)
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.
