Ras Al Khaimah: Emirati soldier first Lieutenant Rashid Ahmad Abdullah Al Habsi, who was martyred while fighting in Yemen as part of the Saudi Arabia-led Operation Restoring Hope, was laid to rest in his hometown of Seh Al Gob in Ras Al Khaimah on Tuesday morning.
The funeral prayers were held at Shaikh Zayed mosque in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. A large number of community members, family and friends also paid their last respects to the departed soul.
Shaikh Saud offered condolences to the close relatives of the deceased after heading the procession to Al Gob cemtery, where the body was laid to rest.
Shaikh Saud offered his sincere condolences to the family of the martyr, praying to Allah to bestow mercy and eternal peace on the martyr’s soul, and to grant his family patience and solace to bear the loss.
A number of shaikhs, senior local officials, tribal chiefs, dignitaries, army officers and personnel and scores of Emiratis and residents offered the funeral prayers.
The entire town of Seh Al Gob and the surrounding villages turned up to mourn the town’s hero.
Khalid Al Habsi, the martyr’s cousin, told Gulf News that the fallen soldier’s father, Ahmad Al Habsi, 61, could not contain his tears as his son was buried while Al Habsi’s mother, Umm Abdullah, 56, recieved the tragic news with great shock but has held on to her composure and said her son is in heaven. “Losing one of our heroes is a hard thing, however he died in the line of duty, protecting our nation and homeland. It’s a loss for us and he will be missed.”
Al Habsi, who had been deployed in Yemen for two months, is survived by five children, three boys and two girls, Mohammad, 11, Raheel, 10, Abdullah, 9, Shaikha, 4 and Hamdan, 3.
Al Habsi’s children were in school when the family received the sad news and later they were informed about the loss of their father. “It’s difficult to make them understand that their father has died,” he said.
Al Habsi was one of 11 children — three brothers and seven sisters. He was the fourth in the order of siblings.
Al Habsi, 36, was the second young man from his family to lay down his life fighting in Yemen after his cousin Fahim Al Habsi.
According to his family, Al Habsi performed Haj three times and Umrah five times.
Al Habsi had joined the army as an employee since 1998, then he joined military school and graduated in 2001 carrying the sergeant rank, according to his brothers and, due to his good behaviour, was chosen to join Zayed Military College in 2006-2007, and he graduated as a lieutenant.
Al Habsi was keen to join the troops in Yemen, his cousin said
Al Habsi’s two brothers, Abdullah and Maktoum, also serve in the UAE Armed Forces, he said.
Abdullah, the martyr’s brother, told Gulf News, “My brother was brave and he was always in the forefront to serve the community and the country. He was not afraid of dying and was always eager to lead from the front. We are proud that he managed to achieve what none of us could, though we have been serving in the army for longer.”
The General Command of the UAE Armed Forces has extended its sincere condolences to Al Habsi’s family, asking Allah Almighty to bless his soul and to bestow patience and solace on his family.
