(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)As fighting rages on in Yemen troops from the UAE that are part of a Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi rebels are pushing towards the country's rebel-held capital Sanaa after securing a strategic provincial city the commander of an Emirati contingent said on Monday.
They hope their campaign will push the rebels out and help restore Yemen's legitimate government Emirati Brig-Gen. Ali Saif Al Kaabi told reporters during a visit to the front-lines insisting the coalition forces were not "coming to occupy Yemen". On Monday Brig-Gen. Al Kaabi told media crews during an exclusive visit to UAE troops fighting on the ground in Yemen that the Saudi-led coalition has secured the city of Marib. But while firmly in control of Marib city about 200km west of Sanaa the Emirati troops face a difficult terrain of towering mountains between them and the Yemeni capital said the Emirati commander. Brig-Gen. Al Kaabi compared the area to the terrain in some parts of Afghanistan where Emirati forces contributed to the US-led coalition. The mountainous region he said has also been peppered with landmines planted by the Houthis and Saleh's loyalists. An Emirati soldier was martyred by one such landmine on Monday - the second to die in as many days bringing the death toll for Emirati forces in Yemen to 54 since September 5 when a missile hit their sprawling Forward Operating Base Safer. Saudi military officials also said five Saudi soldiers were martyred on Sunday by fire from across its border with Yemen and a helicopter pilot died when his chopper crashed during a training mission. A Saudi armed forces statement said the five martyred in the southwest region of Najran while the helicopter crashed due to a technical defect in the Taif area killing its pilot. But instead of breaking the coalition's will the September missile assault prompted the coalition to intensify what has effectively become a proxy war against Iran. "We won't forget our blood" Brig-Gen. Al Kaabi said of the attack earlier this month which martyred 52 UAE soldiers. Taking the small Marib provincial capital was important and strategic Brig-Gen. Al Kaabi added because "if you want to go to Sanaa you need to get to Marib it's the last line." Now the "city is in our hands" he said. "The enemy is in the mountains." Yemeni military officials loyal to the exiled President Hadi who is in Saudi Arabia told reporters in Marib that their units and fighters backed by coalition air support took new ground after fierce clashes with Houthis and their loyalists. At least seven pro-Hadi fighters and 11 of their opponents were killed in a battle to control strategic higher ground on Monday the officials said speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Eyewitnesses and tribal officials speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals said coalition planes launched dozens of airstrikes on rebel positions in the area around the day's fighting.
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