UAE F-16 squadron to support Jordan anti-terror efforts

AMMAN — The United Arab Emirates announced Saturday the stationing of a UAE Air Force F-16 squadron in Jordan, the Emirati official news agency, WAM, reported and a senior official confirmed.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the stationing of the F-16 warplanes under the directives from UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, WAM said.

The move, he added, “expressed the UAE's endless support to Jordan at all levels in recognition of its leading role and immeasurable sacrifices for the region's security and stability”.

Abu Dhabi noted that the move reasserts “the UAE's appreciation” of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army’s role in the international alliance against the so-called Islamic State (IS), WAM said.

In remarks to The Jordan Times, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani responded to the gesture by saying that it was not surprising to Jordan as the UAE “has always supported us and under all situations”.

“The brave soldiers of the Emirates will be working with their Jordanian brothers,” he said.

The UAE, which has withdrawn from the US-led anti-IS coalition, said Thursday it was willing to dedicate “military capabilities to Jordan’s armed forces”.

His Majesty King Abdullah also received a phone call Thursday from Sheikh Mohammad, who offered condolences over the death of Kasasbeh and expressed the UAE’s solidarity with Jordan, praising the Jordanian army and its “heroic role in combating terrorism”.

The UAE said that IS has proved its brutality, showing all the world its “ugliness and violations to all religious and human values through abominable crimes”, WAM said.

The move to support Jordan’s military efforts also stemmed from “Abu Dhabi’s deep belief in the need for collective Arab cooperation to eradicate terrorism, through actions and words, and bolster the security, stability and moderation of the nation through the collective encountering of these terrorist gangs and their misleading ideology and brutal practices”, according to WAM.