The United States military has been transferring fighter jets, transport aircraft, and attack drones from the United Arab Emirates to a facility in Qatar as new limits have been placed on their use by Abu Dhabi, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
According to the newspaper, in February, the U.A.E. informed Washington that it would no longer allow U.S. forces to launch airstrikes that originate in their territory against targets in Yemen or Iraq without their approval.
“Restrictions have been imposed on strike missions against targets in Iraq and Yemen,” a U.A.E. official told The Journal, while explaining that the new policy is “coming from a place of self-protection.”
The action is reportedly being undertaken because the Persian Gulf nation is fearful that they will be drawn into a regional conflict with the regime in Iran if the situation in Gaza becomes more unstable.
Recent media reports have suggested that similar concerns have been raised by Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
The measure has forced the Pentagon to relocate to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as a new location to conduct operations against the many Tehran-backed proxies in the region.
Defense Department spokesperson Sabrina Singh declined to make a specific comment on the matter.
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