Aden cherishes Emirati fallen hero’s memory

Yemeni port city names street in honour of Lt Abdul Aziz Al Ka’abi.

Sale Ba’alawi on Abdul Aziz Al Ka’abi Street in Aden. The taxi driver says naming the street in honour of a martyr not only acknowledges the sacrifice made by First Lieutenant Abdul Aziz Al Ka’abi, it reminds Emiratis and Yemenis of the bond between brother Arab nations. Mohammed Al Qalisi / The NationalShow less

ADEN // Aden resident Saleem Al Agel says he is reminded every day of the UAE's contribution to bringing peace to the city after months of fighting to repel Houthi rebels who have forced Yemen's government into exile.
The 19-year-old ice vendor works on Abdul Aziz Al Ka'abi Street, named after the first Emirati soldier to fall during the liberation of the port city in July.
Along with the UAE flags that are draped across the city by residents, the renamed street is "the symbol of Emirates' loyalty towards Yemen", Mr Al Sagel says.
Lt Abdul Aziz Sarhan Al Ka'abi was killed as UAE troops joined fighters loyal to Yemeni president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi in the final push to expel the rebels from the Aden.
In recognition of his sacrifice, Mr Hadi ordered on July 18 that Aden's Abyan Street be renamed after the young soldier from the Foaa area of Al Ain.
Taxi driver Sale Ba'alawi, 40, says naming a street after Lt Al Ka'abi is important because it reminds Yemenis of the UAE's role in driving the Houthis from Aden.
"The least that Yemen can offer to the Emirates is naming a street after the first Emirati martyr in Aden, but this means a lot for us as we can keep the Emirates in our mind," Mr Ba'alawi says.
Usually when authorities change the name of a street, people continue using the old one from force of habit, but the residents of Aden have quickly taken to referring to Al Ka'abi Street, which runs from the city's Khormaksar district to the neighbouring province of Abyan.
"I hope that the Yemen government sets up a monument to Al Ka'abi at the spot where he was killed to tell the world that Emirati blood mixed with the Yemeni blood there," says Salem Ali, 32, a contractor who is building a hotel on the street. Mr Ali says the hotel is to be named the Hero Abdul Aziz Al Ka'abi Hotel.
Much of Aden is in the process of rebuilding after being ravaged by months of fighting. The UAE has quickly followed up the liberation of the city with an exhaustive programme to provide urgently needed food and medical aid and restore essential services such as power, healthcare and education.
Meanwhile, troops from the UAE and other members of the Saudi-led coalition that is seeking to restore Yemen's legitimate government have helped loyalist fighters recapture surrounding southern provinces in a push towards the rebel-held capital, Sanaa.
The campaign has claimed further casualties, with the UAE in mourning for 45 of its soldiers killed by the Houthis on Friday. Ten Saudi soldiers, five Bahrainis and four Yemeni fighters also died in the missile attack on a camp in Marib province.
"The martyr Abdul Aziz Al Ka'abi and all Emirati martyrs will stay alive in our hearts and we won't forget them," says Mr Ali. "Rather, we will tell their stories to our children."
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