Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has received a flood of condolences for the 45 soldiers killed in Yemen on Friday.
He received phone calls from King Salman of Saudi Arabia, which is leading the Arab Coalition’s Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen, President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia and President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania.
“[The leaders] expressed their heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the leadership, government, people of the UAE, and to the families of martyrs,” a statement on official news agency WAM said.
“They prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant the martyrs’ souls rest in Paradise and bestow patience and solace on their families.”
US President Barack Obama also extended “his heartfelt condolences”.
“President Obama expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the leadership, government, people of the UAE, and to the families of martyrs,” a separate statement on WAM said.
During the phone conversation, Sheikh Mohamed and President Obama also reviewed bilateral ties of cooperation and friendship and discussed efforts being made by the UAE and the US to preserve security and stability in the region and to confront challenges that threaten strategic regional security.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Sheikh Mohamed also exchanged condolences, with five Bahrainis also killed in the militant attack on an explosives storage area.
“Sheikh Mohamed and Prince Salman highly valued the precious sacrifices made by the martyrs in the service of their nation and homeland and in defence of the brotherly Yemeni people, affirming that these sacrifices will further strengthen our resolve to pursue the course set out by the Arab Alliance to achieve victory shortly and then establish legitimacy and preserve security and stability of the Arab region,” a joint statement said.
“They also highlighted the vital role of the GCC common forces in safeguarding security and stability of the region and their efforts to defend dignity of the Arab and Islamic Nation and confront the scourge of terrorism that threatens the region.”
The Egyptian Armed Forces issued a statement saying “the martyrs set a role model in defence of the Arab nation whose security and stability is being threatened”.
”While mourning those heroes, we affirm that their honourable history will always remain live in the Arab conscience,” the statement said.
Other condolences also came from the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Dr Ahmad Al Tayeb, Egyptian Defence Minister Lt. General Sidqi Sobqi, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice, according to WAM statements.
Meanwhile, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah received condolences over the phone from Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Adel Al Jubeir, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Sameh Shoukry, Foreign Minister of Egypt, Nasser Judeh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Jordan, Gebran Bassil, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, and Hamadi Ould Hamadi, Foreign Minister of Mauritania.
The rulers of each of the UAE emirates also publicly expressed their condolences to each of the soldiers’ families.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, declaring their deaths would “not be in vain”.
“Their blood will not go in vain, but will inspire their comrades in arms to accomplish the mission by liberating Yemen from the fangs of aggressive militias,” he said in a statement published on WAM.
“Our 45 martyrs and those who fell before them, will be remembered and cherished in the national memory for their huge sacrifices in the service of the nation.”
Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is in exile in Saudi Arabia but visited the UAE to pay his respects, personally met with Sheikh Abdullah to express his sympathy to the UAE over the Emirati martyrs who sacrificed their lives for his country.
“This great historic stance is a paradigm shift, as it reflects cohesion and solidarity among Arabs at its best,” Hadi said.
“This position will remain etched in the minds and hearts of the people of Yemen.”
In response, Sheikh Mohamed stressed that the UAE remained committed to the Arab Coalition alongside Saudi Arabia, “to defend Yemen and the region until security, stability and peace are restored to sisterly Yemen”.
He said the UAE is firm in its approach to extend a helping hand and support to Arab issues and safeguard the national Gulf and Arab security.
“Such events will not deter us from carrying out our fraternal and humanitarian duty towards our brothers, but they will increase our resolve and strength to achieve the security and humanitarian objectives in the region,” Sheikh Mohamed said.
“Our armed forces heroes in the battlefields are more resolved and determined to liberate Yemen and flush out the scum after the tragic incident.
“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 the Almighty Allah to bless our impending victory.”
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