After al-Kasasbeh, UAE backs out of US-led war against ISIS

Following the execution of Moaz al-Kasasbeh, a Jordanian pilot, by the Islamic State In Syria (ISIS), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has withdrawn from the air campaign against the extremist group.

On September 23, five Arab nations, including UAE joined the United States (US), in launching series of airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar are the other countries.

The UAE said its pilots will not rejoin the coalition until the Ospreys — which take off and land like helicopters but fly like planes — are deployed in northern Iraq.

The country wants the Pentagon to improve its search-and-rescue efforts in Iraq before it resumes bombing missions.

The key US ally in the campaign suspended air strikes in December after the capture of al-Kasasbeh.

al-Kasasbeh fell into the captivity of the sect in December when his plane came down near Raqqa, Syria, while on a mission to support the US-led military coalition against ISIS.

According to Times, the US-led mission is based in Kuwait.

Times quoted Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE’s foreign minister, as expressing his displeasure to Barbara Leaf, the new US ambassador to UAE, on the US not putting proper resources in northern Iraq for rescuing downed pilots.

al-Kasasbeh is the first member of the US-led coalition to be killed by IS.