US commander visits Gaza, rules out US troop deployment to Strip
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Admiral Brad Cooper of US Central Command has visited Gaza to discuss a civil-military coordination center supporting the recent Gaza ceasefire.
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Israeli soldiers work on their tanks at a gathering point on the border with the Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 (AP)
The head of the US Central Command visited Gaza on Saturday, where he stated the purpose was to discuss stabilizing the area after the war, while insisting that no US military forces would be sent to the Palestinian territory.
Admiral Brad Cooper wrote on X that he had just returned from a trip to Gaza to discuss the creation of a CENTCOM-led "civil-military coordination center" which will "support conflict stabilization."
Statement from Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander: pic.twitter.com/1TeByRzPoF
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 11, 2025
Deployment to 'Israel' underway
An initial deployment of 200 US troops has arrived in "Israel" to help monitor the ceasefire in Gaza under President Donald Trump's so-called peace plan.
Commenting on this, the Israeli news website Walla! stated on Saturday that "if the situation is similar to what is happening in Lebanon, then we will witness almost daily attacks."
The website explained that the entity managing the dialogue with the American soldiers at this stage is the Planning and Strategy Division of the Israeli occupation forces, under the command of Major General Eyal Harel, who is "expected to be the next commander of the Israeli Navy."
'Multinational task force'
Meanwhile, the US military will coordinate a multinational task force that will deploy in Gaza and is likely to include troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
"America's sons and daughters in uniform are answering the call to deliver peace in the Middle East in support of the Commander in Chief's direction in this historic moment," Cooper wrote on X.
According to senior US officials, the mission will operate under US Central Command (CENTCOM) and will be structured as a Civil-Military Coordination Center that is responsible for facilitating the flow of what is being described as humanitarian and security assistance into Gaza following the recent ceasefire agreement.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the deployed personnel will monitor the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire from "Israel" while working in coordination with other international forces present in the area.
A US defense official noted that the troops being deployed possess expertise in planning, logistics, engineering, and security, and will focus on ensuring smooth coordination and delivery of aid rather than engaging in combat or policing activities.
