Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has identified the United Arab Emirates as being behind air strikes on Libya.

Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama determined that the UAE Air Force operated fighter-jets in attacks on Islamist militias in Tripoli. They said the UAE strikes were facilitated by Libya’s neighbor Egypt.

On Aug. 25, the United States joined NATO allies in condemning the air strikes. In a statement, the State Department did not identify those behind the operations.

“We understand there were air strikes undertaken in recent days by the UAE and Egypt,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

In a briefing on Aug. 26, Ms. Psaki confirmed reports in the U.S. media that UAE fighter-jets flew from Egypt in attacks on Tripoli International Airport and other targets. She did not identify the combat aircraft deployed by Abu Dhabi, which operates nearly 80 U.S.-origin F-16 multi-role fighters.

Egypt and the UAE have dismissed reports that they cooperated in air strikes on Libya. UAE Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash linked the reports to the Islamist opposition.

The Defense Department also identified Egypt and the UAE as having sent fighter-jets to attack Tripoli. But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby refused to provide details.

“Well, we do believe there were air strikes undertaken in recent days by the UAE and Egypt inside Libya,” Kirby said. “And I would refer you to those governments for any further details. And as for our knowledge of it, I won’t get into discussing the specifics of our diplomatic discussions.”

“The governments of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States strongly condemn the escalation of fighting and violence in and around Tripoli, Benghazi, and across Libya, especially against residential areas, public facilities, and critical infrastructure, by both land attacks and air strikes,” the statement said.

  Anwar Gargash, Jen Psaki, John Kirby, U.S. confirms Egypt, U.S.-origin F-16s, UAE carried out air strikes on Libyan militias