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12/22/2024 02:45:16 pm

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UAE Withdraws Airstrikes Against ISIS

U.S. Airstrikes Against Islamic State

(Photo : Reuters) The United States named the coalition campaign against the Islamic State group Operation Inherent Resolve on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly withdrawn its airstrike support for the United States-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), officials confirmed on Wednesday.

According to reports, UAE has suspended its support for the airstrikes against ISIS as the concern for their pilots have been raised. The announcement came days after a Jordanian pilot was burned alive by his captors in an ISIS video that was released recently.

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The Jordanian pilot, First Lieutenant Muath al-Kaseasbeh, was captured by the ISIS militants on December 24 after his plane went down in an area controlled by the jihadists. He was believed to have been killed early January when Jordan launched airstrikes attacking the militants.

An official who wanted ro remain anonyous said: "I can confirm that UAE suspended air strikes shortly after the Jordanian pilot's plane went down, but let me be clear that UAE continues to be an important and valuable partner that is contributing to the coalition."

According to another U.S. defense official, UAE will only resume airstrike if the Pentagon assures them and the other countries in coalition with the U.S. that a better search-and-rescue operation will be established, especially in northern Iraq where the battle is most tense.

However, the U.S. government released a statement not giving any confirmation to the earlier statements. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said so in a statement, adding that they will also not confirm any information about other country's military operations.

The coalition, which aims to abolish the ISIS militants, includes 60 countries, some of which carry out the airstrikes. Other countries also take part in military or ground attacks, study of the finances of ISIS and blocking them as well as humanitarian support to ensure that not much civilians will be casualties in the fight.

Countries actively taking part in the fight include Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Saud Arabia, Australia, France, Britain and Canada. 

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