WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that U.S. air forces will conduct a multi-day readiness exercise across its area of responsibility, one day after USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group was deployed to the Middle East.
"Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower," the command said in a statement published on its website.
The exercise will serve as a way for the U.S. air forces "to validate procedures for rapid movement of personnel and aircraft; dispersed operations at contingency locations; logistics sustainment with a minimal footprint; and integrated, multi-national command and control over a large area of operations," said the statement.
During the exercise, U.S. forces will deploy teams to multiple contingency locations and validate rapid set-up, launch and recovery procedures with small, efficient support packages, said the statement, adding that the U.S. air forces "will conduct all activities with host-nation approval and in close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities."
So far there is no indication the White House has made any decision on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he remains open to possible negotiations. ■
