Al Mukalla, Yemen: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Thursday reiterated that the UAE strongly believes that the security of the region and the Arab countries is indivisible and that security in the UAE is inseparable from the security of all Arab countries. “We will support our brothers strongly in the face of any plan aimed at destabilising the security and stability of our countries, as well as preserving our Arab identity,’’ he said.
His statements came as he received Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is in the UAE, to discuss fraternal ties between the two countries.
Shaikh Mohammad renewed the UAE’s comprehensive and continuous support, efforts and development and humanitarian initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of the Yemeni people to overcome their challenges.
“The UAE, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the coalition will stand together until Yemen regains its Arab identity and is liberated from aggressors,” Shaikh Mohammad said in a tweet after meeting Hadi.
Meanwhile, on the ground coalition warplanes heavily bombed the Yemeni capital in retaliation for an Al Houthi Scud missile attack targeting a Saudi air force base. Sources said the missile was intercepted before it was able to hit. Residents reported seeing a ball of fire in the sky above the capital in the early hours yesterday.
Separately, resistance fighters supporting the Yemeni government scored new gains in battles against Al Houthis and are preparing to retake the province of Jawf from the Iran-backed militants.
Hamed Zayed Bin Afia, a spokesperson for Jawf resistance, told Gulf News yesterday that two battalions formed from pro-government army troops and tribesmen have made their first advance on Al Houthi-held territories in the province from Marib and are stationed a few miles from the Al Houthi-controlled army camp in Labanat district in eastern Jawf.
“They will remain in the area until they receive orders to attack the camp,” he said.
In Geneva, UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said yesterday he hoped peace talks to end the war in Yemen could start by the end of October. Eliasson called for both the Al Houthi militants and the Yemen government to attend the UN-backed talks without pre-conditions.
