U.S. and Egyptian soldiers carried out a joint military freefall over the Pyramids of Giza earlier this week as part of Bright Star 25, a multinational exercise hosted in Egypt.

U.S. and Egyptian Forces conduct a Military Free Fall (MFF) jump over the Great Pyramids of Giza during BRIGHT STAR 2025. pic.twitter.com/8oOc95PNcQ

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 5, 2025

The military said paratroopers from 13 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Italy, the United Kingdom, Kyrgyzstan, Yemen, Greece, India, Cyprus, Jordan, and South Africa, participated in the jump. 

The event was part of larger drills involving 1,500 U.S. troops and more than 8,000 personnel from 14 partner countries. Additional countries attended as observers.

Bright Star 2025 features a wide range of training, including command post and field exercises, conventional and irregular warfare drills, joint task force planning, and seminars where military leaders and experts share strategic insights.

U.S. Army soldiers fire the 120mm cannon on an M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tank during live fire training for exercise BRIGHT STAR 25 in Egypt.@usarmycentral
(U.S. Army Photo by Joseph Kumzak) pic.twitter.com/nKwUdZwpkl

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 6, 2025

Brigadier General Patrick Clare of U.S. CENTCOM highlighted the significance of the joint military drills saying: “Bright Star 2025 builds upon the enduring security partnership between Egypt and the United States, a relationship rooted in decades of cooperation on counterterrorism, regional defense, and efforts to combat violent extremism.”

“This year’s exercise sends a powerful message: Egypt, the United States, and our international partners remain united in our commitment to regional stability and military collaboration,” he added.

Bright Star began in 1980 and is now in its 19th iteration, making it CENTCOM’s longest-running exercise to date.