France increases it military presence in the UAE
France has come to the aid of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and provide support Provide support in the fight against the Houthi movement, officially called Ansar Allah.
In January 2022, the Houthis claimed three attempted attacks on the UAE with Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (UCAS) and ballistic missiles. On 2 February 2022, the UAE was the subject of a new series of UCAS attacks, three of which were reportedly intercepted by the UAE Armed Forces.
The attacks were claimed by the Houthis and the Alwiyat al-Waad al-Haq group. This group indicated that it will keep on striking the UAE if it does not stop interfering in countries in the region such as Yemen and Iraq.
Western support
The USA announced that it will help the UAE to face this threat. Washington sends the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) and additional Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters toward the United Arab Emirates. France also provides resources within the framework of the defence agreements that bind the two countries.
On 4 February 2022, the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, declared: "Rafale fighters, which belong to our permanent force based in Abu Dhabi, are engaged alongside the Emirati armed forces in surveillance, detection and interception missions in case of need".
Currently, the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air and Space Force) operates seven Dassault Rafale fighters from the Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence (EC01.007) at Al Dhafra (Abu Dhabi). According to the French Ministry of Defence (MoD) the Rafales will be called upon and will be reinforced by air-to-air refueling and ground-to-air defence capabilities. A total of 650 French soldiers are currently deployed within the French forces in the United Arab Emirates (FFEAU).
Within the Opération Chammal framework, a French military operation in Iraq and Syria in an attempt to contain the expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the AAE deployed four Rafales to Jordan. The fighters can carry out reconnaissance missions with the NG recconnaissance pods and identify launch sites or destroy UAS systems. The nature of the reinforcement has not been revealed, but could include one or more theatre antimissile systems (SAMP/T) and an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Scramble Magazine expects more information in the days or weeks to come.
Photos and image by Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace