People are cheering the news that the United Arab Emirate's first female pilot took part in the U.S.-led strikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria.
Mariam Al Mansouri led the UAE air strikes on Syria have sent the internet into a spin,girl power.
Were proud of you ❤️ #مريم_المنصوري
Ive had the pleasure of personally meeting her, and she was such a humble and kind hearted person! #مريم_المنصوري #ماشاء_الله
Mariam al-Mansouri, 35, was part of the UAE team, the country's ambassador to the U.S., Yousef al-Otaiba, told the Morning Joe talk show. “We will bring whatever it takes to defeat ISIS [ISIL] and other forms of extremism," al-Otaiba said.
Five Arab countries — the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia — are participating in the U.S. led-strikes on ISIS. Otaiba defended the UAE's participation in part by pointing to al-Mansouri's presence.
"The whole campaign and coalition on ISIS and extremists in general boils down to ultimately this," al-Otaiba said. "Do you want a model or a society that allows women to become ministers in government, female fighter pilots, business executives, artists or do you want a society where if a woman doesn't cover up in public she is lashed or raped?"
In Saudi Arabia, which participated in the strikes, women are forbidden from driving and must be fully covered in public.
UAE officials initially did not confirm or deny the rumors of al-Mansroui's role. Her name and face first circulated in the news in June, when news sites like CNN and the Abu Dhabi-based The National profiled her new job.
Saudi Arabia also had a local star on their team: On Wednesday, officials released photos they said showed the son of the Saudi Crown Prince, Khalid Bin Salman, in his warplane after the airstrikes.
Prince Khalid bin Salman, the son of the #Saudi Crown Prince, seen in his warplane after an airstrike in #Syria
Meanwhile, ISIS supporters on Twitter were furious over reports of al-Mansouri's participation. They were also angry at the UAE for participating in the U.S.-led strikes on ISIS in the first place.
Sorry, a hijabi pilot from UAE bombing Muslims in Syria together with America is just too much for my comprehension. #AllInYourName
The #UAE female pilot will end up as sabaya, or as the fuel of hell. shes butters anyway the akhs can take her
But some of the reactions circulating about al-Mansouri made no sense. This picture was being shared as proof of her participation — but it is a UAE identity card for someone from Japan with the same last name as al-Mansouri.
Bismillah. iPICTURE - Mariyam al Dassouri, an #UAE officer and pilot on her way to bomb #IslamicState -->