UAE military officer dies in Yemen

The UAE general command of the Armed Forces announced that an Emirati soldier died while fighting in Yemen, state news agency WAM reported.

The agency identified the official as Lieutenant Abdul Aziz Sarhan Saleh Al Ka’abi and said that he died while “performing his national duty with the participating forces of the Operation Restoring Hope Coalition”.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition of Middle East countries conducting air strikes in Yemen in order to expel Houthi rebels and allies loyal to ex-president Abdullah al Saleh.

The coalition is also working to restore exiled president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and retake parts of the country, majority of which is under Houthi rebels’ control currently.

There have been a number of military causalities in the coalition, mainly from Saudi Arabia. Last month, two Saudi soldiers were killed in cross border shelling between the army and the rebels.

Another military personnel from the UAE armed forces was also killed in the Yemen conflict in June. Non-commissioned Emirati officer Hazim Obaid Al Ali died while training for the armed forces involvement in Operation Restoring Hope coalition.

Air strikes by the Gulf Arab coalition have helped as Yemeni forces recapture Aden’s international airport and some districts from Houthi fighters.

“Aden International Airport and Khormaksar have been cleared of Houthi and Saleh elements by armed forces backing Yemen’s legitimacy and the popular resistance forces, in coordination with and with direct support by the coalition,” Yemeni government spokesman Rajeh Badi said.

He said he expected Aden to be cleared completely of Houthis within the coming days.

The Saudi-led coalition has also been providing military training to forces loyal to president Hadi and dropped arms to local forces fighting Houthis.

Gulf countries, specifically Saudi Arabia, are sensitive about the rising prominence of Houthi rebels, who are allied with the GCC’s regional foe Iran.

Saudi, which shares a border with Yemen, is keen to not let the country fall under Shi’ite Houthis’ control over fears of Iran meddling within the kingdom.