Bahrain sends warplanes to Jordan to fight Islamic State

DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain has deployed war planes to Jordan, the state news agency BNA said on Sunday, becoming the second Gulf Arab country to send warplanes to help in the fight against Islamist militants in Syria and Iraq.

Jordan has taken a leading role in conducting air strikes against Islamic State strongholds in Syria and Iraq since the militants killed a Jordanian pilot, Mouath al-Kasaesbeh, who was captured by the group after his plane crashed in Syria in December.

"A group of Bahraini Royal Air Force planes have landed in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to participate in the international effort to annihilate terrorism," BNA said.

It did not say how many aircraft or what kind were sent.

The United Arab Emirates last week sent a squadron of F-16 jet fighters to Jordan to conduct air strikes against Islamic State alongside Jordanian planes.

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