A US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft performs a demonstration flight during the inaugural Trilateral Exercise between the US Air Force, United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and the French Air Force at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, Dec 15, 2015. (SAUL LOEB / AFP)
DUBAI – US F-22 fighter jets arrived at an air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday following a spate of unprecedented attacks in Abu Dhabi by Houthi fighters in Yemen, the US Air Force said on Saturday.
The jets arrived at the UAE base as part of a multifaceted demonstration of US support after a series of attacks throughout January threatened US and Emirati armed forces stationed at the host installation, according to a US Air Force statement.
The US Secretary of Defense ordered the rapid deployment of the fifth-generation aircraft in coordination with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The US Secretary of Defense ordered the rapid deployment of the fifth-generation aircraft in coordination with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE.
It will join a range of joint, coalition and allied and partner combat air power capabilities already based across the region.
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The airmen and F-22s are deployed from the 1st Fighter Wing, located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, the US Air Force said.
Last week, the US general overseeing Middle East operations told Reuters the US will help the UAE replenish interceptors it uses to knock down incoming missiles.
The recent Houthi attacks have thrown a spotlight on so-far unsuccessful UN-led efforts to broker an end to the war in Yemen, which since 2015 has pitted the Houthis against a Saudi Arabian-led military coalition that includes the UAE.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a humanitarian crisis.
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