AFP

DECIMOMANNU, Italy — Twelve fighter jets from the United Arab Emirates, a key US ally, landed at an Italian base on Sunday ahead of their deployment to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya.
The six F-16s and six Mirage planes, which were committed by UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan on Thursday, could be seen landing at the Decimomannu base on the island of Sardinia.
A former UAE air force commander said last week that his country had delayed its military deployment because of disagreements with the West over the unrest in Bahrain, where there is a Shiite-led revolt against the Sunni royal family.
Two Mirage fighter planes carried out Qatar's first mission over Libya accompanied by two French jets, the French military said Friday.