UAE suspends air strikes against ISIS

(IraqiNews.com) The United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from flying air strikes in the U.S.-led international coalition campaign against the ISIS group militants, U.S. defense officials told Reuters.

U.S. officials said the UAE had suspended its participation in the U.S.-led air campaign against ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria after the murder of the Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was captured and killed by the ISIS group.

“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,” one official told Reuters.

State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki, however, stated during a regular briefing on Wednesday, “We are not going to confirm any reports about other countries and their military operations.”