UAE prepares to welcome home first troops from Yemen

An Emirati gunner watches for enemy fire from the rear gate of a UAE Chinook military helicopter flying over Yemen. Adam Schreck, File/AP Photo

ABU DHABI // Leaders from around the country have praised the achievements of Emirati troops serving in Yemen, as they prepare to welcome them home on Saturday at the end of their tour of duty.

The first contingent has been relieved on rotation by a second force, and the UAE will hold a day of receptions in honour of the returning soldiers.

Meanwhile in Yemen, the internationally recognised government has told the United Nations that Houthi rebels are committing crimes against humanity by deliberately shelling civilian areas of Taez city and stopping essential supplies reaching residents.

The rebels are using heavy artillery and tanks on homes in densely populated residential areas of the city, the internationally recognised government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi said in a letter to UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

The report to the UN said there was no military activity in the areas being targeted by the Iran-backed rebels and their allies.

The government said it was confident that the UN would take a stand against Houthi breaches of human rights law.

The letter’s publication on Friday came as the death toll from rebel shelling in the city over the previous two days rose to 19, including four children.

“With the clashes and shelling still targeting Taez city, the residents in these areas cannot leave their houses and they depend on whatever they have at home for food,” said Fareed Al Homaid, a journalist based in the besieged city.

Mr Al Homaid said five pro-government fighters from the popular resistance had also been killed at different fronts in the city over two days.

Control of the city is divided between pro-government and rebels forces and months of fighting have taken a heavy toll of civilians. Many have joined the resistance after losing loved ones in rebel fire.

The rebels control the roads into the city and have blocked supplies of food, water and medicines entering.

The resistance is fighting the rebels and allied renegade units of the Yemeni military on several fronts in Taez province but the fiercest clashes have been in the provincial capital. It is receiving support from the Saudi-led regional coalition, including air cover, weapons and armoured military vehicles from the UAE.

However, the resistance is struggling to make headway against the rebels, a senior leader said.

"We are fighting the Houthis, which is in fact the Yemeni army, and the fighters of the resistance are normal people who are not properly trained for combat," he told The National, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said the resistance could stop the Houthis from taking fresh territory and recapture parts of Taez city with coalition-supplied weapons and vehicles, but it would be difficult to liberate the whole province without help from coalition troops.

“If the coalition sends us troops, they know how to fight and how to use weapons properly and they will observe us and train us how to fight,” he said.

Yemeni officials have said that coalition troops from Sudan who arrived in Aden last month would take part in the liberation of Taez.

“We will not surrender to the Houthis. We will fight them even with our own weapons until we exile them from Taez, but if the coalition forces will help us as they did in Aden that will be great and we can liberate the province easily.”

He said the resistance would prevent the Houthis from taking over new areas and that the Southern Resistance in Aden and Lahj provinces was also sending fighters to Taez to help local forces launch a decisive battle for control of the province and its capital city.

Meanwhile president Hadi has issued instructions declaring as null and void all measures and resolutions authored by the rebels at all state civilian and military institutions, regarding civil service and including employment, retirement and appointments.

The official Yemen News Agency said Mr Hadi sent the instructions to his vice president and prime minister Khaled Bahah on Thursday night.

He stressed that relevant action should be taken urgently in coordination with the relevant authorities to render all the rebels’ measures and resolutions illegitimate.

Back in the Emirates, the country’s leaders and soldiers’ families are looking forward to welcoming the heroes home after victories including the liberation of Aden and Marib.

“The victories accomplished by the Armed Forces in Yemen give us a sense of pride,” said Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

“They have dedicated themselves for the sake of the homeland and proven their competency in the battlefields.

“This sacrifice reflects the commitment and belonging to the homeland, as well as loyalty to the wise leadership that instilled the love of the country and readiness to sacrifice in them for the sake of the nation’s stability.”

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, said the soldiers served as role models for patriotism and dedication for their homeland.

“We are happy to receive our brave heroes, with their heads held up after fighting for the justice and peace in Yemen whom we share with the Arab and Islamic values, as well as common destiny,” Sheikh Humaid said.

“We were with you while you were sacrificing your lives for the sake of restoring the legitimacy of Yemen through defeating the Houthi rebels. You have achieved honourable and heroic acts that made the wise leadership and the whole world proud of you.”

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, also paid a glowing tribute to the soldiers of the Arab coalition’s Operation Restoring Hope.

“You deserve our honour, prestige and confidence,” Sheikh Hamad said. “Your sacrifices are invaluable. You have let your families and grant your lives to the cause of this beloved country. You are the hope of this nation.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, in a speech called Days of Glory, said: “We will be writing history when we receive our heroes who wrote the glory in the annals of history while taking part in the Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

“They pushed off the forces of evil. The sacrifices of our martyrs will continue pushing us ahead to dedicate the final victory for them and our nation.”

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, said: “The achievements by the UAE Armed Forces and their solid will is a source of pride not only for Emiratis, but also for our Arab nation. Our brave soldiers fought outside borders for the sake of the values of right, justice and humanity.”

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, said the Emirati soldiers and those from sisterly GCC states responded to the call from brothers in Yemen to protect the people from danger.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, said history would not forget the role of the servicemen in Yemen.

“The victories in Yemen fill us with pride as our Armed Forces contribute to restoring peace, stability and development in Yemen,” he said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Crown Prince of Fujairah, sent his greetings to soldiers as their tour of duty finished, and praising their sacrifices to liberate four southern provinces from Houthi control.

And Sheikh Rashid bin Saud, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, said the sacrifices of the first batch of soldiers reflected their allegiance to the leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

* With reporting from Mohammed Al Qalisi and Wam