The United Arab Emirates, a crucial ally in the American-led coalition against the Islamic State, suspended airstrikes against IS group in December, 2014, citing fears for its pilots’ safety after a Jordanian pilot was captured and who had been burned to death, United States officials said.
"The UAE are demanding that the Pentagon improve its search-and-rescue efforts, including the use of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, in northern Iraq, closer to the battleground, instead of basing the missions in Kuwait," the New York Times writes.
According to NYT's sources, the placement of these aircraft in northern Iraq is a compulsory condition for UAE agreeing to rejoin the fight.
In addition, a week ago the UAE’s foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, asked Barbara Leaf, the new American ambassador, why the US had not placed proper assets in northern Iraq for rescuing downed pilots. The Ambassador was unable to answer this question.
