As war heroes’ bodies came home, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces told Yemen: ‘We are with you until the mission is accomplished’
The UAE on Saturday buried its war heroes, began three days of mourning for their sacrifice and pledged unceasing military and humanitarian efforts to restore peace,security and stability to Yemen.
The bodies of the 45 soldiers who died in a Houthi rebel missile strike in Yemen on Friday were flown early on Saturday to Abu Dhabi, where they received an honour guard of senior military officers at Al Bateen air base. Their funerals took place later across all seven emirates, whose rulers led the tributes. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, said the servicemen embodied the UAE's Arab and Islamic identity in their determination to defend and support human values and principles, and in their defence of the "distressed people" of the world.
Flags throughout the country flew at half-mast, and radio stations broadcast classical music and quotes from the Quran out of respect for the dead soldiers.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, received a phone call from the US president Barack Obama offering his condolences. There were also messages from Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and France.
The president of Yemen, Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, visited Sheikh Mohammed in Abu Dhabi to pay his respects to the Emirati soldiers who gave their lives for his country. The UAE’s support, Mr Hadi said, “will remain etched in the minds and hearts of the people of Yemen”.
Sheikh Mohammed said this support would remain unflinching despite Friday’s loss of life. “Such events will not deter us from carrying out our fraternal and humanitarian duty towards our brothers, but will increase our resolve and strength to achieve our security and humanitarian objectives,” he said.
“Our Armed Forces’ heroes in the battlefield are more resolved and determined to liberate Yemen and flush out the scum … we will not hesitate … we are with you until the mission is accomplished. Yemen is not your country alone, but we share common history with you. We pray to Almighty Allah to bless our impending victory.”
In Yemen on Saturday the UAE launched a wave of air strikes on rebel targets in Sanaa, in the Houthi stronghold of Saada in the far north and the central city of Ibb.
Coalition warplanes also bombed the rebel position from which Friday’s missile was fired.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
