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UAE orders Italy to withdraw forces from base in arms sale row

The Emirates is kicking Italy's forces out of Al Minhad airbase
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

The United Arab Emirates has given Italy until Friday to pull its forces from a military base in the Gulf country in apparent retaliation for Rome’s blocking of arms sales to Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

The pullout was already underway late last week when Defense News broke the story, citing Matteo Perego Di Cremnago, a member of the Italian parliament’s defense committee. Reuters confirmed Friday’s deadline for the withdrawal.

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