 The UAE supported military operations from the US and other coalition nations engaged in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan (2001) and Saddam Hussein in Iraq (2003) as well as operations supporting the Global War on Terror for the Horn of Africa at Al Dhafra Air Base located outside of Abu Dhabi.The air base also supported Allied operations during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and Operation Northern Watch.The country had already signed a military defence agreement with the U.S. in 1994 and one with France in 1995.