They came in a convoy of proud men in uniform, cheered by well-wishers, greeted as heroes, and honoured for their bravery on the battlefields of Yemen. The UAE troops who have served their nation with honour, courage, sacrifice and duty have returned home, replaced by another rotation to continue the international mission to free Yemen from the scourge of Al Houthis and return the country to its legitimate government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
These troops have proudly fulfilled their service in freeing Aden from rebels, liberating swathes of territory, including Marib, a key Yemeni province, from the Al Houthi forces who have wrought destruction and despair on the Yemeni people, and ensured that the strategic Bab Al Mandab is open to international passage. In this regard, these heroes who serve bravely and proudly the red, green, white and black flag of the UAE, can report their duty has been done. Yes, they have endured hardship and death, and yes, they have shown themselves to be true fighting heroes who underscore the long, deep, historic and strategic friendship between the UAE and the people of Yemen.
But while the work of these troops is now complete, there is still work to be done in Yemen — removing the last vestiges of the Iranian-backed rebels, and then rebuilding that land from the damage wrought by the usurpers.
The people of Yemen can rest assured that the UAE is committed to their freedom, and there is much work to be done before the international force that is acting with the support of a United Nations Security Council resolution can report ‘mission accomplished’. Indeed, there is a simple choice for Al Houthis to genuinely make: cease fighting, be serious and commit to a dialogue instead of sending mixed messages, and engage in international talks in an meaningful way. If not, there will be no rest until such a time as the last remnant of the Al Houthi influence is erased. There should be no doubting the resolve of the UAE, its leadership and its Armed Forces in this regard.
