UAE to conduct air strikes alongside Jordanian planes, as Jordan launches bombing raids against Isis positions in Syria and Iraq

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The United Arab Emirates is sending a squadron of F16 fighter jets to Jordan to conduct air strikes against Islamic State (Isis) alongside Jordanian planes, an army source in Amman said.

Jordan launched bombing raids against the jihadi group’s positions in Syria and Iraq on Thursday in response to its brutal killing of a captured Jordanian pilot, military action that it continued on Saturday.

The UAE, meanwhile, has suspended flights as part of the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against Isis in view of concerns about search and rescue capabilities after the pilot was downed.

UAE fighters would now join raids from inside Jordan, the source said.

“This is a big boost and will be helping our (Gulf) brothers shorten their flying distances and intensify strikes against the militants,” the source said.

UAE state news agency WAM said the Gulf country had ordered a squadron of F16s to support the Jordanian armed forces in what it said was its “effective participation” in the military campaign against Isis.

But it did not specify whether the aircraft would be carrying out air strikes from Jordan.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the UAE would resume missions in the coalition air campaign in the next few days. The official did not provide further details.

The US military declined comment, referring queries to the UAE.

Jordan carried out air strikes for the third day running on Saturday, mainly targeting the jihadist group’s Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, a security source said.