Middle East

The selfless men and women of the U.S. military are busy helping Turkey and Syria recover from one of the most devastating earthquakes in recent memory.

In Turkey, the U.S. military recently delivered a field hospital to Incirlik Air Base. Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen spent the past week setting up the medical facility, which “is equipped with an emergency room, two operating rooms and an intensive care unit along with critically needed medical supplies, 100 beds and equipment to ensure the functionality of the hospital,” according to the Department of Defense.

“I am proud of the professionalism with which the team has responded to assist our Turkish allies and friends who are suffering from the earthquake’s devastation,” said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Andrew Priddy.

We remain committed to #AdviseAssistEnable our @modmiliq, @KRG_MOPE, @cmoc_sdf & @SyrianFree_Army partners as they continue to demonstrate their capabilities & commitment to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS while paving the way for stability & prosperity throughout the region. pic.twitter.com/agZfCIpH0B

— Operation Inherent Resolve (@CJTFOIR) February 28, 2023

In neighboring Syria, the U.S. military is showing compassion to citizens struggling in a war-torn landscape that’s now also been struck by natural disaster. Service members are also busy fighting ISIS which, as The Stream’s Nancy Flory explained earlier this week, might look to capitalize on the tragic earthquake and aftershocks by brutalizing Christians and other innocent civilians. Thankfully, the U.S. military is keeping pressure on the terrorist group.

In Yemen, “a British navy frigate aided by a U.S. Navy surveillance plane seized anti-tank missiles and other weapons” that are believed to be from Iran, according to Stars and Stripes. The Gulf of Oman raid to confiscate the “illegal” weapons, which was announced by both the United States and United Kingdom on Thursday, took place on February 23.

U.S. forces provided airborne intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance support for an interdiction in the Gulf of Oman conducted by the 🇬🇧 Royal Navy, Feb. 23, that resulted in the discovery of an illegal weapons shipment from Iran. Read more: https://t.co/MvHXoiEOLY pic.twitter.com/owIFOV65w6

— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) March 2, 2023

Please pray for all U.S. military personnel serving in and around the Middle East.

Europe

Last week’s Service & Sacrifice column on The Stream focused heavily on the more than 100,000 U.S. military personnel currently stationed in Europe to deter Russia amid its ongoing war against Ukraine. The below image shows U.S. Marines training on their weapons this week in frigid Norway.

On Target. @USMC Marines assigned to the @2ndMLG engage targets during live-fire training as part of Marine Rotational Force-Europe in Setermoen, Norway. pic.twitter.com/D9bE6S3xFm

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) March 1, 2023

A wider armed conflict could erupt in Europe at any moment. Please keep our country’s brave men and women in uniform in your constant prayers.

Africa

In Somalia, the U.S. has decided to ramp up military operations against the al-Shabab terrorist group. According to the Associated Press, “61 tons of weapons and ammunition arrived Tuesday in Mogadishu” to be used in the fight against al-Shabab. About 450 American troops are currently serving in Somalia.

.@USAfricaCommand soldiers in the East Africa Response Force (EARF) conduct sniper rifle training in Djibouti. The EARF routinely trains on various rapidly deployable military capabilities to protect American interests on the African continent. pic.twitter.com/2Z0HzEE0Jg

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 28, 2023

In Djibouti, U.S. Army soldiers held a sniper rifle training event, as seen above. While few Americans even realize there are American troops serving in Africa, these warriors and their families need and deserve our ongoing prayers for their safety.

Coming Home

Speaking of the African continent, a group of U.S. Army soldiers recently returned to Alabama after serving a successful deployment to the Horn of Africa.

U.S. Army soldiers and military families reunite during a homecoming ceremony at Fort Rucker in Alabama on February 23, 2023.

Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for defending our freedom overseas.

Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is the author of the recently released Be Bold and co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.