WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has shifted command for forces
operating off the coast of Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean. Officials said
the military's European Command would take over for Central Command in
Lebanon.
"The idea of letting Centcom focus on certainly its two major operations
that are ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan also made sense," Eucom commander
Gen. James Jones said. "And with Eucom's ease of discussions with and
location and experience with European countries, that seemed to be some
good logic for doing that. And that's why it was done."
Jones, who also commands NATO forces in Europe, said Eucom would take
over Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean on Aug. 23. Until now, Eucom
supported Centcom in the evacuation of 15,000 Americans from Lebanon, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said Centcom had been allocated the mission because its area
of
command included Lebanon. But they said the burden of the operations in
Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa led to a Pentagon decision to shift
commands.
Officials said another factor was that Israel was in Eucom's area of
operations. They said having Israel communicate with Eucom, which would then
notify Centcom was regarded as cumbersome.
"The mission continues to be unchanged, and that is to assure the
assisted departure of American citizens and, if need be, the U.S. embassy
and to assist in humanitarian activities within the means and capabilities
that we currently have," Jones said in an Aug. 17 briefing.
In 2004, the U.S. military transferred responsibility for Jordan and
Lebanon from Eucom to Centcom. The two commands have been cooperating in
Turkey, which has helped the logistics effort in the war in Afghanistan.
Turkey is under Eucom's area of responsibility while Afghanistan is under
Centcom.
"If we didn't go for one unified commander, you'd have two unified
commands, one for Israel, one for Lebanon, and a seam between the two, and
it just doesn't work very well that way," Jones said.
Officials said Eucom could also be granted a role in the formation and
deployment of a UN peace-keeping force along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
They said the U.S. military would not contribute forces, but could help
airlift soldiers and equipment from NATO countries to Lebanon.
"We've had close contact with the Israelis, who have been very open and
forthcoming with us about what their plans are and what their activities
are," Jones said. "And we've obviously, in the early days, deconflicted a
lot of things with regard to their naval operations, and that helped us a
great deal. So we've had good open communications."