DOHA // Three Qatari soldiers have been killed in Yemen, an army statement said, the country’s biggest losses since it sent troops to join a Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels and extremists.
The statement published by the official QNA news agency gave no details of how the three soldiers were killed saying only that they had been “martyred on Monday”.
The losses are the first in Yemen to be announced by the Qatari army since November last year when one soldier was killed in action.
Qatar deployed ground troops to Yemen in September last year as the coalition – which also includes the UAE – stepped up its intervention in support of beleaguered president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.
Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, offered condolences from the UAE to Qatar on the loss of the three soldiers killed in the line of duty in Yemen.
On his Twitter account, Dr. Gargash said: “Today, our hearts are with Doha, we offer our condolences on the death of martyrs of Qatar who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country and nation, while on duty as part of the Saudi-led Arab coalition force Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen.”
In a statement issued earlier, the Qatari armed forces announced the martyrdom of the three soldiers in the line of duty and expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the martyrs, praying to Allah to rest their souls in Paradise and bestow patience and solace upon their families.
The coalition began an air campaign against rebels in Yemen and in support of Mr Hadi in March last year.
The intervention initially targeted Shiite rebels and their allies but since March this year has also targeted Al Qaeda, which exploited the conflict to seize several major towns.
The UN says that more than 6,500 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the intervention began.
Meanwhile, on Monday a UAE aid ship reached the port of Al Mukalla, in Hadhramout province, with a shipment of spare parts, filters and fuel oil for electric generators to help people cope with power failures (full report page 2).
The supplies were provided by the Emirates Red Crescent, which has led the operation to supply aid to southern Yemen since anti-government rebels and extremist groups were driven from the area.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had occupied Al Mukalla for a year until April, when pro-government forces backed by the Arab coalition drove them from the city.
* Agence France-Presse and WAM
