Arriving At The UAE Air Base, US F-22 Raptor Fighter Jets Ready To Support Defense Against Yemen's Houthis

JAKARTA - United States F-22 fighter jets arrived at an air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday, following an unprecedented spate of attacks in Abu Dhabi by Houthi fighters in Yemen, the US Air Force said on Saturday.

In recent weeks, the Iran-aligned Houthis have carried out a series of mostly failed attacks against targets in the UAE, fueling the country's and US's air defenses.

The jets arrived at the UAE base as part of a demonstration of US support, after a series of attacks throughout January threatened US and Emirati armed forces stationed at the host installation.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the rapid deployment of the fifth-generation aircraft, in coordination with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE, a statement by the United States Air Force Center said.

It will join the range of combined, coalition and partner combat air power capabilities already based across the region.

The airmen and F-22s were deployed from the 1st Fighter Wing, located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, the US Air Force said.

Last week, the US general who oversaw Middle East operations told Reuters the US would help the UAE reload interceptors used to knock down incoming missiles.

Recent Houthi attacks have highlighted failed UN-led efforts to broker an end to the war in Yemen, which since 2015 has pitted the Houthis against a Saudi-led military coalition that includes the UAE.

To note, the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a humanitarian crisis.