30 From Israel's USCENTCOM Integration to Operation Midnight Hammer Israel’s entry into USCENTCOM was a necessary precondition for the great success observed in Operation Rising Lion and Operation Midnight Hammer. Aspart of thefirst Trumpadministration’s adjustments to the Unified Command Plan (UCP) in January 2021, Israel was formally transferred from the US European Command (USEUCOM) to the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility. This move reflected a strategic realignment in response to evolving threats, particularly those posed by Iran. Historically, Israel had been under USEUCOM’s purview, which focused mainly on European security and NATO relations, while USCENTCOM covered the Middle East and Central Asia, including many Arab states hostile to Israel. The transfer acknowledged the changing geopolitical realities, especially the warming ties between Israel and moderate Arab states following the Abraham Accords of 2020. The Accords paved the way for Israel’s inclusion in USCENTCOM. The agreements normalized CDR. David A. Levy, USN (ret.) Retired US Navy Commander and former Director for Theater Security Cooperation at USNaval Forces Central Command. He also served as US Air and Naval Attaché in Tunis, Tunisia. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at Bar-Ilan University. Photo: Shutterstock
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