Gulf States want to show 'Muslim power’ as partner in US-led airstrikes: source

Reporting by Abdullah Al Ghadawi; Editing by Ridha Ali

(Zaman Al Wasl)- The Gulf Arab States wanted to endorse its stand of the US-led airstrikes against Islamist groups in Syria by a woven propaganda which would legitimize the questionable role for the oil-rich countries as they hit another Muslim country, Well-informed Sources told Zaman al-Wasl.

Sources said that officials of the United Arab Emirates with their American counterparts agreed to show the power of Arab Muslims in the coalition carried out against the radical militant groups including ISIS on September 23.

The photos of the Emarati female pilot and the Saudi Prince behind the steering wheel of their fighter jets as they just landed after striking extremists bastions in Syria, seemed to very well deliberate to push further legitimacy for the US-led coalition.

The Middle East Eye website said that Maryam al-Mansouri, 35-year-old, the first female pilot in the United Arab Emirates air force, has became the face of the international coalition as her photo, leading F-16 airstrikes against IS targets in Syria, goes viral via social media and news outlets.

The White House gave the go-ahead order to the Gulf States to start the attacks but they preferred to be along with US ones, source said.

The American Defense Department said on Sep 23 that aircraft from several Arab states took part in the first attack. They were: Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Analysts predicted retaliation acts by ISIS supporters or by the group itself, saying the propaganda may have negative impacts on the fragile political atmospheres in the Gulf countries.