Stars and Stripes reports that “U.S. Vice President Joe Biden began a Mideast tour Monday vowing that the United States and its allies would destroy and ‘squeeze the heart’ of the Islamic State group, while thanking both American airmen and Emirati troops.”  

“Biden spoke before hundreds of airmen as jets roared down the runway at Al-Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi, a main launching point for operations in Syria and Iraq targeting the Islamic State group.”