Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), visited the UAE this week and vowed more support for Abu Dhabi’s war against the Houthis as the US escalates its involvement in the war in Yemen.
In the wake of recent Houthi attacks on the UAE, the US is deploying the USS Cole to the country, and McKenzie said a squadron of US F-22s would arrive next week. “We’re going to bring in a squadron of F-22 fighter jets, the best air superiority fighters in the world,” he said, according to UAE state media.
McKenzie said the F-22s will work with the UAE to “help defend the nation.” In recent weeks, the US helped Abu Dhabi intercept Houthi missiles. He said the USS Cole will “patrol the waters of the UAE, working closely with UAE air defenders to protect their nation.”
The cooperation is framed as “defensive” in nature, but it’s important to note that the Houthis wouldn’t be attacking the UAE if the country hadn’t been waging war on Yemen since 2015. The UAE’s support for militant groups on the ground in Yemen has brought the Saudi-backed government recent success on the battlefield against the Houthis.
McKenzie said the US is also working to give the UAE the ability to hit Houthi drones inside Yemen before they’re launched. “We are working with our partners here in the region and with the industry back in the United States to develop solutions that would work against drones. We would like to work against drones what we call ‘Left of Launch’, [which means] before they can be launched,” he said.
The Biden administration recently approved a $65 million arms sale to the UAE to upgrade Abu Dhabi’s Hawk, THAAD, and Patriot missile defense systems.
Israel is also looking to bolster the UAE’s missile defenses and is reportedly considering selling Abu Dhabi the Iron Dome. On Tuesday, Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla, who is nominated to be McKenzie’s replacement, said Israel’s cooperation with the UAE and other Gulf nations in missile defense is promising.
“That’s probably the area with some of the greatest opportunity: working toward an integrated air and missile defense. I think the addition of Israel … will help with that,” Kurilla said.
Ah, yes, the F22s will be there to provide protection against the dreaded Houthi air force, right? Absolutely necessary, if you ask me … the UAE’s own F16s are simply not good enough to fight against the Houthis planes.
the Houthi air force uses magic carpets, so F16s really aren’t good enough
“the USS Cole” Uh, isn’t that the one that got blown up before because it futzed around where it didn’t belong? I’m sure people in the Middle East remember that.
“The Biden administration recently approved a $65 million arms sale to the UAE to upgrade Abu Dhabi’s Hawk, THAAD, and Patriot missile defense systems.”
And there’s your reason for the US getting involved. Also Israel’s reason, selling their scam “Iron Dome” crap.
Again, if I were Iran, I’d go big time into Yemen and support the Houthis with anything they need. Not just man portable arms, but bigger stuff. Hump those Saudis and UAE clowns where it hurts.
Houthi drones are actually low flying remote controlled missiles, aren’t they? Very hard to shoot down that sort of thing.
F-22 will do it! Biden says so. Get in Iron Dome against Houthi fireworks.
USS Cole?
Weapon sells are down so potus has do something.
“The cooperation is framed as “defensive” in nature, but it’s important to note that the Houthis wouldn’t be attacking the UAE if the country hadn’t been waging war on Yemen since 2015.”
The very idea that other countries can retaliate just doesn’t enter into the thought process of US warmongers.
Well, Biden seems to have reversed himself rather quickly.
I just never ends. In just the last 50 years we have interfered in 144 elections in other countries. We have invaded, bombed. assisted other nefarious regimes, just all manner of the macabre. Unfortunately for Yemen, oil is there. I didn’t want a Trump return, so I voted for Biden. I want to pitch spoiled tomatoes at him now.
The US is on the wrong side of the war in Yemen.
The Iron Dome is the preferred bulletproof vest of genocidal baby-killers.
Coming off their big wins in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Military is moving on to Yemen…
is this the same centcom that was involved in afghanistan and still involved in syira?