What Happened
Lt Gen Daniel Lasica Assumes Leadership Role In High-Stakes Middle East Operations
Lt. Gen. Daniel Lasica has taken over as the commander of US Air Forces Central, overseeing American air operations in the Middle East at a critical time in the US war with Iran. Lasica succeeds Lt. Gen. Derek France, who is retiring after a two-year stint as AFCENT’s commander. The command has faced significant challenges, including the loss of key aircraft and a dwindling stockpile of missile interceptors. The US war with Iran has taken a considerable toll, with 18 troops killed and hundreds more wounded. The new commander may have to contend with a reliance on air-delivered weapons from manned aircraft, which could raise the stakes for US escalation. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.