UAE prepares to rotate troops in Yemen and deploys more armoured vehicles on the front line 20311151

Posted On
a
Defence & Security News - UAE
 
 
UAE prepares to rotate troops in Yemen and deploys more armoured vehicles on the front line
A major contingent of UAE armed forces is preparing to enter Yemen to relieve those soldiers that have been carrying the burden so far. Nearly seventy Emirati soldiers have been killed in the war which is understood to be entering its final phase. UAE armoured vehicles have also been sent to the front line of the battle for the city of Taez, which has been under attack from Houthi forces in recent months.
     
UAE prepares to rotate troops in Yemen and deploys more armoured vehicles on the front line 640 001UAE sent more armoured vehicles to the frontline in Yemen
     
The General Command of the UAE Armed Forces on Monday said the first batch of "brave Emirati soldiers" will be replaced by the second batch as part of Operation Restoring Hope.

The coalition has sent 30 military vehicles, including tanks, to forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in Taez, the southwestern gateway to the rebel-held capital, military sources there told AFP.

Abu Dhabi-based The National paper said that "UAE-supplied military vehicles have arrived at the front line of the battle for the city of Taez," adding that "dozens" of armoured vehicles were delivered on Sunday to pro-government fighters in the city.

Taez has remained in the hands of fighters loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. But the Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies have besieged it for months with clashes raging between rival forces.

The Dubai government-owned daily Al-Bayan reported that "coalition forces, reinforced by vehicles and modern arms... have deployed in Taez." But The National and military sources said that the armoured vehicles were manned by Yemeni fighters.

UAE media reported that more reinforcements are expected to arrive in Taez from Lahj province in the south.

The modern weapons provided by the coalition include US-made anti-tank TOW missiles, according to the Saudi Asharq Al-Awsat daily.

Last week, the coalition dropped arms and ammunition to pro-government fighters in Taez, military sources said.

The UAE is one of a number of countries battling Houthi rebels in Yemen in a bid to restore the legitimate government. Saudi Arabia is leading the coalition which also includes Qatar and Bahrain.