UAE hails courage of fallen soldiers in Yemen war

United Arab Emirates (UAE) vice president said Monday the UAE leadership and the armed forces were proud of the courageous Emirati soldiers who died in the war in Yemen, UAE daily Gulf news reported.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the UAE prime minister, also Dubai's ruler, issued the statement whilst visiting the families of the three UAE soldiers killed in action Sunday in Yemen's Operation Restoring Hope.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led Arab coalition comprised of nine Arab states supporting Yemen's "legitimate" government. The campaign aims to stop Shiite Houthi rebels from controlling the country, with Saudi Arabia claiming the rebels are backed by Iran.

Shaikh Mohammad was accompanied by his son Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai.

He offered his deepest condolences to the family of fallen military personnel Khalid Mohammad Abdullah Al-Shehhi as he visited the family home in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah in the north of the UAE.

He then visited the family of Fahim Saeed Ahmad Al-Habsi, also in Ras Al Khaimah. Sheikh Mohammad and his entourage expressed "their heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the martyr's family and relatives."

Shaikh Mohammad also paid a condolence visit to the family of fallen soldier Juma Jawaher Juma Al-Hammadi in the emirate of Sharjah, Dubai's neighboring emirate.

Gulf news quoted Sheikh Mohammed as he said that military service "is an honour, allegiance and loyalty to the nation and its leadership."

The UAE, a major oil supplier, introduced compulsory military service in 2014.