Six Lockheed Martin F-16s of the United Arab Emirates air force landed at Italy's Decimomannu air base in Sardinia on 27 March to participate in enforcement of the no-fly zone over Libya.
The aircraft were followed by six Dassault Mirage 2000-9s, flying via Souda Bay air base, Crete.
The arrival of the first UAE aircraft in Sardinia followed that of an Airbus A330-200 transport carrying personnel and equipment.
UAE aircraft will follow a Qatar Emiri Air Force detachment of six Mirage 2000-5s as part of an Arab League-backed contribution to the international Operation Odyssey Dawn.
The latter (one pictured below) were involved in their first air patrol mission with French air force assets on 25 March, flying from Souda Bay.
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© Paul Farley/US Navy |
Jordan and Kuwait have also offered to provide logistical support for the ongoing mission, enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1973, to protect Libyan civilians from personnel loyal to the nation's leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi.
Source: Flight International
