BRUSSELS: The UAE wants to deploy commandos to help train forces fighting Daesh terrorists and will resume its contribution to the US-led air campaign, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Friday.
Carter met top UAE officials in Brussels following a landmark summit of anti-Daesh coalition members to discuss ways to step up the 18-month fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
“They indicated to me their willingness to do more, which is important, specifically to re-start their participation in the air campaign, secondly to work with us on the ground,” Carter said.
UAE special operations forces would help train and advise — as well as arm — anti-Daesh forces in Syria and local partners in Iraq, including Sunni groups and the Kurdish Peshmerga. Carter did not say how big the force would be.
“What is needed in the Sunni parts of Iraq is capacity among moderate Sunnis to re-occupy and govern that territory and keep a multi-sectarian Iraq together,” Carter said. “The Emiratis can be an important part of that.”
Saudi Arabia too has promised to step up its anti-Daesh efforts. Like the UAE, it took part in early strikes after the campaign began in mid-2014.
The continued fight against Daesh comes as world powers met in Munich on Friday and agreed an ambitious plan to cease hostilities in war-racked Syria.
But the Munich accord will not apply to Daesh and Al-Qaeda’s local branch. “There is no cease-fire in the war against Daesh,” Carter said. “Be clear about that.”
Carter met top UAE officials in Brussels following a landmark summit of anti-Daesh coalition members to discuss ways to step up the 18-month fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
“They indicated to me their willingness to do more, which is important, specifically to re-start their participation in the air campaign, secondly to work with us on the ground,” Carter said.
UAE special operations forces would help train and advise — as well as arm — anti-Daesh forces in Syria and local partners in Iraq, including Sunni groups and the Kurdish Peshmerga. Carter did not say how big the force would be.
“What is needed in the Sunni parts of Iraq is capacity among moderate Sunnis to re-occupy and govern that territory and keep a multi-sectarian Iraq together,” Carter said. “The Emiratis can be an important part of that.”
Saudi Arabia too has promised to step up its anti-Daesh efforts. Like the UAE, it took part in early strikes after the campaign began in mid-2014.
The continued fight against Daesh comes as world powers met in Munich on Friday and agreed an ambitious plan to cease hostilities in war-racked Syria.
But the Munich accord will not apply to Daesh and Al-Qaeda’s local branch. “There is no cease-fire in the war against Daesh,” Carter said. “Be clear about that.”
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