US defence secretary visits UAE in first Middle East trip

Abu Dhabi: U.S. President Donald Trump's defence secretary arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday for talks with one of Washington's closest allies in the Middle East.
James Mattis, on his debut trip to the region as Pentagon chief, was expected to meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayan and U.S. embassy representatives. U.S. officials have not disclosed details about his agenda.
In late January, Trump and the Crown Prince spoke by telephone and the White House said they had discussed a proposal for safe zones for Syrian refugees displaced by the conflict.
Mattis, a retired Marine general who is reviewing U.S. war plans against IS in Syria and Iraq, is a familiar figure to Gulf leaders.
A former leader of Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the region, Mattis said in his Senate confirmation hearings that Iran was "the biggest destabilising force in the Middle East and its policies are contrary to our interests."