Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a move resonating deeply with Israeli audiences, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) took to social media Monday with a striking Hebrew-language post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, signaling both military readiness and solidarity with Israel amid heightened regional tensions. As reported by Israel Hayom, the post served not only as a commemoration of past cooperation but also as a not-so-subtle message aimed at both allies and adversaries.

The post referenced Juniper Oak 23-2, a major U.S.-Israel joint military exercise held in January 2023, designed to bolster operational coordination between the two nations’ armed forces. It read: “January 2023: Two years ago, U.S. Central Command and the IDF participated in the Juniper Oak 23-2 exercise, a bilateral military drill designed to enhance operational coordination between the U.S. and Israeli militaries. Our units are always ready to operate together because we always train together.”

But it was the image and language accompanying the message that carried unmistakable symbolic weight. Featuring American and Israeli fighter jets in formation, the image was emblazoned with the words “All units ready” — a phrase directly lifted from the viral 2023 Israeli drill rap “Harbu Darbu” by hip hop artists Ness and Stilla, according to the Israel Hayom report. The song, whose title is Arabic slang for “war and pain,” became an anthem of resolve and retaliation in Israel following Hamas’s October 7 massacre, in which some 1,200 Israeli civilians were murdered in cold blood.

As the report at Israel Hayom noted, this cultural reference was no coincidence. The CENTCOM post was clearly designed to strike a chord with Israeli public sentiment, tapping into the popular and emotional response to Hamas’s atrocities and reaffirming the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance at a moment of intense uncertainty in the region.

“Harbu Darbu,” which topped Israeli charts last year, is a defiant and aggressive anthem whose lyrics call for revenge against terrorists, particularly those responsible for the October 7 attacks. By quoting from it, CENTCOM projected more than camaraderie—it communicated resolve and strategic readiness, echoing a cultural and psychological framework familiar to millions of Israelis.

This tactic—infusing military messaging with cultural nuance—is part of CENTCOM’s ongoing effort to build deeper engagement with Israeli audiences. Since launching its Hebrew-language social media account, the command has gone viral multiple times, sharing everything from Shabbat greetings to Passover messages, all crafted in a tone that blends informality with strategic clarity.

According to the information in the Israel Hayom report, this messaging comes amid a rapid and substantial escalation of U.S. military presence in the region. With nuclear negotiations with Iran faltering and President Donald Trump recently issuing a direct military threat to Tehran, American forces have been deploying across key theaters in what security analysts describe as “military movement at neck-breaking speed.”

Currently, two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are active in the region: the USS Harry Truman, operating in the Red Sea, and the USS Carl Vinson, recently stationed in the Arabian Sea. The latter is equipped with F-35 fighter jets, capable of advanced strike missions and stealth operations.

Moreover, at least six B-2 stealth bombers have been positioned at the Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean. Israel Hayom reported that these bombers are designed to carry the 14-ton Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a “bunker buster” weapon capable of destroying heavily fortified underground targets — a not-so-subtle reference to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

In addition, Israel Hayom reported that two Patriot missile batteries and a THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system were deployed last week to the Israeli Air Force’s Nevatim Airbase near Beersheva, further solidifying joint U.S.-Israel missile defense coordination.

The timing of CENTCOM’s Hebrew post is no accident. As tensions with Iran and its regional proxies—including Hezbollah and the Houthis—continue to escalate, CENTCOM’s message serves as a multidimensional warning. On one hand, it reassures Israeli citizens and leaders that the U.S. remains a steadfast and ready partner. On the other, it sends a clear deterrent signal to Tehran: the U.S. and Israel are not only aligned in rhetoric but integrated in operational capabilities.

According to the report at Israel Hayom, defense experts see the visible U.S. build-up and the CENTCOM messaging campaign as part of a coordinated pressure strategy aimed at forcing Iran back to the negotiating table—or preparing for a military confrontation if diplomacy collapses.

With a simple yet potent phrase—“All units ready”—the U.S. military has reminded Israel and the region that America’s presence is not symbolic, but strategically postured and culturally attuned. As Israel Hayom reported, this deepening military coordination and psychological signaling highlight the unbreakable bond between Jerusalem and Washington in the face of shared threats.

As nuclear brinkmanship intensifies and terror groups remain active, the U.S.-Israel alliance is demonstrating its readiness not just in weaponry, but in unity, messaging, and mutual resolve—ready, if necessary, for war and pain.