For more than two years, the UAE has been part of a Saudi Arabia-led international coalition that is working to restore the legitimate government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi of Yemen that was overthrown by Al Houthi rebels. Throughout, the UAE has been and remains fully proud of the mission, which comes within the ambit of United Nations Security Council resolutions. While there is still work to be done in securing the entire country, more than 85 per cent of it is now returned to law, order and stability, and the international partners taking part in the mission there have also committed to rebuilding the broken nation for our Arab brothers.
Throughout, Iran has trained, armed and provided logistical assistance to the illegal interlopers, and Al Houthis have failed to accept any and all opportunities to be included in rebuilding a new, stronger Yemen. Throughout, they have insisted on holding on to their arms and heavy weaponry, refusing to consider peace, always ready to do the bidding of their sectarian and ideological masters in Tehran.
The situation in Yemen is now entering its endgame. And instead of reading the writing on the wall, and trying to be part of the future rather than the root cause of the misery and mayhem of the past two years, Al Houthis now have finally shown their true colours, threatening the UAE and its capital. Al Houthis are terrorists, plain and simple. They have shown no regard for the rule of law in their home country, have attacked aid and humanitarian missions and vessels with Iranian-supplied missiles, and now have the sheer ignorance and audacity to issue threats against this nation.
Make no mistake: The UAE will never shy away from its international duty and obligations to our Arab brothers in Yemen; nor will it ever cower in the face of such scurrilous, seditious and fear-mongering attacks from the leadership and membership of Al Houthi militia. Make no mistake either: The UAE will take every and any step necessary to fully eradicate the serpentine leadership that would contemplate the use of terrorism against this or any other nation. Long has the UAE warned of the sectarian and poisonous nature of Iran and the interference of its Revolutionary Guards. The UAE has not, is not, nor will ever bend in the face of such threats. And those who utter such threats will be eliminated.
