Newspapers report UAE, Arab coalition's progress in Yemen

Newspapers in the United Arab Emirates yesterday published different reports about the progress made by the Saudi-led Arab coalition in its fight to restore legitimacy to Yemen. The papers also carried commentaries on the recent developments there.

'Al Ittihad' newspaper published detailed reports by its correspondents in Sana'a and Aden, confirming that the coalition-backed pro-government forces, loyal to the legitimate President Abd Rabo Mansour Hadi, continued their march towards the strategic port of Mokha, currently under the control of Houthi rebellious militias and their allies.

The paper quoted residents as saying the coalition's air strikes targeted the military airport and the special security forces camp in Hodiedah and destroyed parts of a house owned by the deposed president Ali Abdulla Saleh.

The daily 'Al Khaleej' also carried several reports highlighting the events in Yemen and interviewed a number of Yemeni activists in Aden who expressed their gratitude to the UAE and to the Arab coalition for their efforts in support of the legitimacy in Yemen.

The paper's editorial also highlighted the ethical and humanitarian values ingrained in the UAE policy. The paper said such values were evident in the notes made by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces while talking to the families of the Emirati martyrs yesterday.

"His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's words put emphasis on the spirit of the union and the spirit of the union's people in solidarity with the Yemen issue. It is an issue of destiny and existence and there is no way that either the UAE, or the Arab coalition countries, could abandon their role in maintaining the region's security and stability and confronting Iranian expansionist ambitions," the paper said.

"His Highness said it right when he described our martyrs' heroic sacrifices as a mark in the history," it added.

Another commentary in Al Khaleej stressed the need to uproot terrorism and to regain peace, security and hope in Yemen after an isolated minority turned the country into a "quagmire of blood and destruction" just to serve external agenda.

The paper also published a report on the strategic importance of Yemen at the crossroads of major sea lines between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and encompassing vital navigation routes.

'Al Bayan' newspaper interviewed a senior leader in the Yemeni popular opposition in Mareb who said the UAE role in Yemen is not limited to military efforts to restore legitimacy, but also to normalise life there after the war.

"The UAE did a great job in supporting Yemen's national army and popular opposition in Mareb and their efforts paid off when the province was liberated from the militias," Salem bin Samran Al Obaidi told the newspaper.

An article in 'Arroya' newspaper highlighted the historical significance of the Mareb dam in the province carrying the same name. The paper noted that Mareb was once the capital of the kingdom of Sheba and a seat of Yemen's ancient civilisation