On February 4, we reported that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) was continuing to suggest that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was “conducting airstrikes” in Syria against the Islamic State (ISIL) despite an apparent suspension of flights by that country since late December. After a Jordanian aircraft was shot down and the pilot captured (and subsequently executed) by ISIL, the UAE reportedly grounded its planes over concerns about coalition search-and-rescue capabilities. Although CENTCOM refused to confirm the suspension, saying “that question is best addressed by the UAE,” the very next day CENTCOM changed the wording in the daily press releases from “nations conducting airstrikes” to “nations which have conducted airstrikes.”

Here’s the press release from February 4: