U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Sept. 15 that it hosted the Jordanian Armed Forces for Exercise Eager Lion 2026 at Fort Carson, Colorado, the first time the United States has hosted the biennial training.
The CENTCOM release says the two-week exercise brings together more than 200 military personnel from Jordan and the United States, including National Guard members from Colorado and Illinois, for combined training at Fort Carson.
CENTCOM described scenarios that will focus on planning and coordination in counterterrorism, air defence, maritime security, cyber operations and disaster response, and quoted Adm. Brad Cooper saying the exercises will strengthen operational effectiveness and readiness.
The CENTCOM statement notes Eager Lion 2026 is the 12th iteration of the exercise and highlights a long-running partnership between the Colorado National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces under the State Partnership Program begun in 2004.
The CENTCOM page frames the event as part of broader regional security cooperation; separate coverage by ANI reproduced the CENTCOM statement and underlined CENTCOM’s emphasis on joint readiness and the training topics listed.
For context on recent CENTCOM activity in the region, see related coverage of U.S. strikes and Iranian responses in September.
Two internal articles about recent regional military operations provide further background on CENTCOM’s posture: U.S. completes strikes on Iranian military targets in response to attacks and Iran retaliates with strikes on US bases after deadly wedding attack.
Sources
- U.S. Central Command — official Sept. 15 public release confirming Exercise Eager Lion 2026 at Fort Carson, participation of more than 200 personnel, training focus areas, and quote from Adm. Brad Cooper.
- ANI — news report summarising the CENTCOM statement and noting the exercise is the 12th iteration and includes National Guard members from Colorado and Illinois.
