The United States will deploy approximately 200 military personnel to the Middle East to help monitor the newly brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, senior US officials confirmed Thursday.
The deployment comes as part of President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza, with the troops forming the core of what the US Central Command is calling a "civil-military coordination center" (CMCC). However, the White House was quick to clarify confusion surrounding the mission after initial reports suggested troops would be sent directly to Israel.
"To be clear: up to 200 US personnel, who are already stationed at CENTCOM, will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel, and they will work with other international forces on the ground," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, calling earlier reports "not true" and "taken out of context."
The coordination center will include military representatives from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and likely the United Arab Emirates, forming a multinational monitoring force. Officials emphasized that no American troops are intended to enter Gaza itself.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US military's Central Command, will oversee the operation. The personnel, who possess expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics, and engineering, have already begun arriving in the region and will continue deployment over the weekend.
"The notion is to make it collegial, if you will. And the Israelis will obviously be in constant touch with them," one senior official told reporters on condition of anonymity. The official added that Cooper's involvement gave "a lot of confidence and security to the Arab countries" during negotiations.
The exact location of the coordination center remains unclear. While the White House indicated troops would be stationed in Israel, sources familiar with the matter suggest Egypt is a more practical host country, given that Qatar and Turkey would also have representatives involved and Israel doesn't maintain normalized diplomatic relations with Qatar.
The mission's scope extends beyond ceasefire monitoring. Officials said the team will also facilitate humanitarian aid flow into Gaza, coordinate logistical support, and assist with the transition to a civilian government in the Palestinian territory.
Cooper earned praise from Trump during a Thursday cabinet meeting, with the president saying, "Cooper, I hear he's been fantastic." The admiral reportedly told mediators during negotiations in Egypt that he could have the command post operational within two and a half weeks.
The breakthrough deal, announced Wednesday, will see remaining Israeli hostages freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, with Israeli forces pulling back from parts of Gaza in the first phase. After two years of devastating conflict that triggered a humanitarian crisis, this represents a significant step toward ending hostilities.
However, many questions remain about subsequent phases, including Hamas disarmament, complete Israeli withdrawal, and Gaza's future governance issues that will likely require sustained international involvement to resolve.
