Abu Dhabi: The UAE has declared that the war in Yemen is over for Emirati troops, after restoring legitimacy, returning to the political path and responding to Iran's interference.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, made the announcement on his official Twitter account (@MBZNews) late on Wednesday.
Shaikh Mohammad quoted the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, who had given a speech earlier saying the "war is over for our troops," but that "we're monitoring political arrangements."
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The UAE's resolve in both political and military realms in Yemen surprised many observers as the country gave a major support to the Saudi-led coalition in what Gargash described as a "difficult test."
“Our standpoint today is clear: war is over for our troops; we’re monitoring political arrangements, empowering Yemenis in liberated areas”— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) June 15, 2016
Gargash: Op Decisive Storm had 3 objectives: returning to political path, restoring legitimacy, responding to Iranian interference
— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) June 15, 2016
Gargash: UAE political & military performance surprised observers & was a major support for KSA & coalition in this difficult test— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) June 15, 2016
Gargash: Having exhausted all political means in the Yemeni crisis & with the Iranian support becoming clear, a decisive move had to be made— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) June 15, 2016
UAE troops had been among the most active members of a Saudi-led “Operation Restoring Hope” in Yemen which began in 2015 in response to requests for assistance from internationally-recognised government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
