Imran Khan
PDF VETERAN
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Messages
- 68,815
- Reaction score
- 5
- Country
- Location
22 UAE soldiers killed in Yemen fighting
Officials say troops were killed when missile fired by Houti rebels hit a weapons storage depot near their position in Marib province
Smokes rise above a neighbourhood following airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition targeting an army base in Sana’a Photograph: Yahya Arhab/EPA
Associated Press in Sana'a
Friday 4 September 2015 15.01 BST Last modified on Friday 4 September 2015 15.14 BST
52
Save for later
Twenty-two soldiers from the United Arab Emirates have been killed while taking part in Saudi-led operations in Yemen against Houthirebels – the largest single loss for the Gulf nation’s military in the conflict.
Pro-government Yemeni security officials said the troops were killed on Friday when a Houthi missile hit a weapons storage depot near their position in the province of Marib. Officials from the Houthi media office in Sana’a confirmed they fired a Soviet-era Tochka missile.
The UAE’s official WAM news agency did not specify the role of the personnel in Yemen. The seven-state Emirates federation is one of the most prominent members of the Saudi-led coalition, which aims to roll back gains by the Shia rebels and their allies.
Fighting in Yemen pits the Houthis and army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh against forces loyal to President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is in self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia, as well as southern separatists and local militias.
The Saudi-led and US-backed coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the rebels since March. Houthis have captured more territory around Yemen after taking control of the capital, Sana’a, last September.
Clashes between Houthis and pro-government forces, as well as airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition, intensified this week in Marib as the opposing sides gear up for a critical battle over the coming days.
Pro-government forces want to clear Marib province of Houthi fighters, then proceed on to Jawf province, then to Saada, the Houthis’ stronghold in the north, the security officials said.
Officials say troops were killed when missile fired by Houti rebels hit a weapons storage depot near their position in Marib province
Smokes rise above a neighbourhood following airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition targeting an army base in Sana’a Photograph: Yahya Arhab/EPA
Associated Press in Sana'a
Friday 4 September 2015 15.01 BST Last modified on Friday 4 September 2015 15.14 BST
- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter
- Share via Email
- Share on Pinterest
- Share on LinkedIn
- Share on Google+
52
Save for later
Twenty-two soldiers from the United Arab Emirates have been killed while taking part in Saudi-led operations in Yemen against Houthirebels – the largest single loss for the Gulf nation’s military in the conflict.
Pro-government Yemeni security officials said the troops were killed on Friday when a Houthi missile hit a weapons storage depot near their position in the province of Marib. Officials from the Houthi media office in Sana’a confirmed they fired a Soviet-era Tochka missile.
The UAE’s official WAM news agency did not specify the role of the personnel in Yemen. The seven-state Emirates federation is one of the most prominent members of the Saudi-led coalition, which aims to roll back gains by the Shia rebels and their allies.
Fighting in Yemen pits the Houthis and army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh against forces loyal to President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is in self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia, as well as southern separatists and local militias.
The Saudi-led and US-backed coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the rebels since March. Houthis have captured more territory around Yemen after taking control of the capital, Sana’a, last September.
Clashes between Houthis and pro-government forces, as well as airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition, intensified this week in Marib as the opposing sides gear up for a critical battle over the coming days.
Pro-government forces want to clear Marib province of Houthi fighters, then proceed on to Jawf province, then to Saada, the Houthis’ stronghold in the north, the security officials said.