UAE says ready to support anti-IS coalition with ground troops

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UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday it was ready to supply ground troops to help support and train an international military coalition against Islamic State in Syria provided such efforts were led by the United States.

Asked whether the UAE could be expected to send ground troops to Syria, and if so under what circumstances, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said:

“I think that this has been our position throughout … that a real campaign against Daesh has to include ground elements,” he said, referring to Islamic State’s name using the Arabic acronym.

Saudi Arabia, one of several Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab states, including the UAE, who are opposed to Islamic State, said last week it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants decided to start such operations.

Gargash said that any potential supply of troops would not be particularly large.

“We are not talking about a thousand troops but we are talking about troops on the ground that will lead the way, that will train, that will support … And I think our position remains the same and we will have to see how this progresses.”

“Of course an American leadership in this effort is a pre-requisite,” Gargash said.

He added that the UAE had been frustrated at the slow pace of the international efforts against Islamic State “although there has been some progress in Iraq recently, of confronting Daesh.”

Gargash said the UAE had always stated there also needed to be a “genuine political process in Baghdad that will encompass the Sunnis” in Iraq, which has a Shi’ite-led government.

Following Saudi Arabia’s announcement, Syria’s foreign minister said on Saturday Damascus would resist any ground incursion into its territory and send the aggressors home “in coffins”.

Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia and most other Gulf states are opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian and Syrian government forces have intensified an assault on rebel-held areas around the Syrian city of Aleppo, prompting tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the Turkish border.

On Sunday, aid trucks and ambulances entered Syria from Turkey to deliver food and supplies to those fleeing the escalating government assault on Aleppo.
REUTERS

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21 responses to “UAE says ready to support anti-IS coalition with ground troops”

  1. Rudy1947 Avatar

    “Of course an American leadership in this effort is a pre-requisite,”

    “to help support and train an international military coalition”

    A little vague. Are the UAE troops going to be front line grunts or provide motivational seminars and sage counsel?

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      5 Years have demonstrated ‘wise councillors’ – as well as a piddly few boots on the ground.
      Kurds did the right moves, and got the right help finally.
      As anyone knows, it takes a physical presence to make the difference. But when they are all fighting each other like bandits, nothing much changes.

  2. WOW, the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates and has 65,000 troops……

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar
      Hind Abyad

      UAE has 65,000 troops.. haha.. many are not UAE nationals with “soldiers” from countries such as Pakistan. The UAE are paid mercenaries attacking a country (Syria), that didn’t attack them.
      That’s the Western allies continuing the destruction of the Middle East making Israel happy, making millions of refugees invade Europe.
      https://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/The-Truth-About-The-UAE-Mercenaries-6-1-2011.asp

      1. Rudy1947 Avatar

        The Swiss Guard are mercenaries.

        1. Hind Abyad Avatar
          Hind Abyad

          How boring reading such stupidities on Yabanana. Crusaders were mercenaries from noble lineage (as the Helvetian Guards) who fought for European countries in 13-14th centuries.

          “They soon earned a reputation for self-sacrifice and bravery, as demonstrated during the sack of Rome in 1527, when all but 42 of the 189 guardsmen died defending Pope Clement VII. The Swiss Guards prepared for similar self-sacrifice during World War II, when the vastly outnumbered guardsmen took up defensive positions as German forces rolled into Rome; Adolf Hitler, however, chose not to attack the Vatican.

          You’re comparing them to Saudi & Co?

          1. Rudy1947 Avatar

            Hind, mercenaries have been around for centuries and have little bearing on the UAE troops and no bearing on the issue of UAE troops.

          2. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Then think before posting nonsense.

          3. Rudy1947 Avatar

            You posted the nonsense, I just tried to set you straight.

          4. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            =_= just tried to set up what straight? (I know this will go on forever)

          5. Rudy1947 Avatar

            The insignificance of the use of mercenaries by UAE.

          6. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            The use of mercenaries by UAE is not insignificant.
            You’re insignificant mentioning the Vatican Swiss army as mercenaries.. they don’t invade countries.

          7. Rudy1947 Avatar

            Very insignificant. No one is going to stop on the battlefield, ask for identification and then treat them any different.

          8. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Stop boring me with this blabla I’m busy.OK?

          9. Rudy1947 Avatar

            Not too busy to respond. Stick to art.

          10. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Stop messages.

          11. Rudy1947 Avatar

            yes dear.

      2. In which secret service are you employed?

        My only source was Wikipedia….

      3. wargame1 Avatar

        Iranian invading pigs dying in Syria at least 50 of them
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l3nybD0Uv8

      1. The Colombian will do anything for money, drugs, murdering……

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