U.A.E. Resumes Air Strikes Against Islamic State Militants

The United Arab Emirates has resumed air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants.

The kingdom’s military said F-16 jets based in Jordan attacked positions of the group on February 10 and returned safely.

The Emirates and Jordan are part of the U.S.-led coalition that has been carrying out air strikes against IS militants in Syria and Iraq since last year.

But the Emirates had suspended strikes against IS targets after the militants captured a Jordanian pilot in Syria in December. The pilot was murdered in a video that emetrged on February 3.

The February 10 statement was the first confirmation the Emirates had restarted combat operations.

Mewnhile, the U.S. military said the coalition struck four units of Islamic State fighters amid 11 air strikes in Iraq since early on February 9. It also conducted one strike in Syria, hitting an IS vehicle.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters