The United Arab Emirates announced Saturday it is stationing a squadron of F-16 fighter jets in Jordan to help in the country's fight against jihadist terror group ISIS. A UAE diplomatic source and the official government news agency also said that its own combat operations in the U.S.-led coalition will resume "very soon."
The renewed interest comes as Jordan announced it was stepping up attacks on ISIS strongholds in Syria and Iraq after one of its fighter pilots was burned alive in a purported video released Tuesday. The pilot's death outraged Jordanians and was denounced across the broader Muslim world.
The military assistance is meant to stop the terror network, which "showed all the world its ugliness and violation of all religious and human values through abominable crimes," the Emirates News Agency said in a news release.
Since December, the UAE has suspended its combat missions, citing operational concerns. At the time, the Arab country said the appropriate search and rescue capabilities were not deployed close enough to the fighting — a concern should a coalition fighter jet go down in enemy territory. The Jordanian pilot killed was captured by ISIS in December after his jet crashed without coalition forces launching a rescue attempt.
IN-DEPTH
- Jordan Fighter Jets Launch Fresh Bombing Raids on ISIS
- U.S. Repositions Rescue Teams Closer to Syria After ISIS Killing
- Jordan to ISIS: Revenge Airstrikes Just 'The Beginning'