UAE Armed Forces officer dies in Yemen

Abu Dhabi - The martyred officer was Lieutenant Abdul Aziz Sarhan Saleh Al Ka'abi.

The UAE on Thursday announced the death of one its officers while performing his national duty along with members of the Operation Restoring Hope Coalition who are on a mission to restore the legitimate government in Yemen.
The General Command of the UAE Armed Forces said the officer, Lieutenant Abdul Aziz Sarhan Saleh Al Kaabi, died in Yemen even as senior members of Yemen's exiled administration flew into Aden to make preparations for the government's return, three months after being pushed out by the armed Houthi group.
This is the second casualty the UAE forces taking part in the coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, have suffered in a month.
Non-commissioned officer Hazim Obaid Al Ali, 40, died in Saudi Arabia in exercises as part of the armed forces' involvement in Operation Restoring Hope.
The body of Lt Al Kaabi was flown home at 11pm and the funeral prayer was held at 12 midnight at the Shaikh Zayed Mosque in Al Haili before being laid to rest in Al Haili grave yard. The 24-year-old deceased is from Al Foaa neighbourhood in Al Ain and is survived by two sisters and six brothers.
Hundreds of people posted prayers for the departed soul on social websites and praised the role of the UAE Armed Forces. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash tweeted: "Our children in the armed forces write with their sacrifice and blood chapters of glory in the parade of pride and dignity for generations yet to come."
"The UAE is committed to preserving the security of brotherly countries and their bloods in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Yemen are the testimony," wrote Dr Ali Al Noaimi, Vice-Chancellor of the UAE University, in a post.
"My brothers and I are ready to sacrifice for the UAE so that it remains secure and stable," said Saqr Al Kaabi, brother of Lt Kaabi.
Website 24 quoted Saqr Al Kaabi as saying that his late brother was younger to him, but "more active than us all".
"He graduated from Zayed Second Military Academy, and had always been talking about his desire to become a member of the UAE Armed Forces," Saqr Al Kaabi said, adding, his brother went down in love and in defence of the country.
"The last phone call from him came two days ago, and during the conversation he enquired about all of us. We also asked him how he was doing, and he said he was very happy - with a smile, I could imagine", he recalled.
"In our hearts we feel the pain of losing our beloved brother, but we - and God bear witness to what I am saying - the six of the brothers are ready, even before his body is flown home, to follow him in defending our country", he added.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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