UAE to Resume Air Strikes in Syria, Train Sunni Fighters in Iraq

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed to ramp up support for the US-led coalition against the Islamic State, by resuming air strikes in Syria and providing military advisers for Sunni fighters in Iraq and Syria, US Department of Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told reporters at a news conference on Friday.

The UAE indicated its willingness "to restart their participation in the air campaign, which is very important," Carter said following a meeting with Defense Minister Mohammed Al Boward. "Secondly, [UAE agreed] to work with us on the ground in various ways."

The UAE stopped participating in the air campaign in late 2014, after Daesh terrorist group captured, and later executed, a Jordanian pilot.

Carter also said the UAE would be increasing its ground presence with special forces in Syria, in preparation for a campaign to recapture the city of Raqqa, the terrorist group’s de facto capital.

In addition, the UAE agreed to train Sunni forces in Iraq, especially police who will patrol territories recent recaptured from the Islamic State, he explained.

A day earlier, Carter received similar pledges from the government of Saudi Arabia.