Leaders of Arab Coalition praise UAE’s fighters

Seventy per cent of Yemen has been taken back from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Brig Ahmed Al Assiri, spokesman of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, said.

The rotation of UAE troops in Yemen showed a high level of professionalism, the spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab Coalition said on the day the country’s first contingent of soldiers arrived home to a heroes’ welcome.

“The Saudi-led Arab Coalition forces are advancing towards their key targets, which are ensuring security, stability of Yemen and reinstating the legitimate government, securing the southern borders with Saudi Arabia,” Brig Ahmed Al Assiri told Sky News Arabia.

“Day after day, governorates are being brought back under the state authority and the legitimate government.”

So far, 70 per cent of Yemen has been taken back from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, he said.

With their presence growing stronger, the coalition continues to fight for control of Taez, Yemen’s third-largest city.

“The coalition forces have first won the battle of Marib and the focus is now on Taez, which is seeing daily fighting between the forces of the legitimate government, backed by the coalition air strikes, and the Houthi militia and forces loyal to the deposed president [Ali Abdullah] Saleh,” Brig Al Assiri said.

“The stage is set and the forces are ready to achieve victory soon in the southern city.”

As the coalition moves ever closer to its goal, the leaders of the UAE should be credited with enabling the liberation of Marib, said Brig Musallam Al Rashidi, head of the Force to Liberate Marib.

The UAE military commander also paid thanks to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, for being in direct and continuous contact with the personnel in Yemen.