Two Emirati pilots were martyred after the fighter aircraft they were flying in crashed while performing their national duty in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition's Operation Restoring Hope.

As per a statement issued by the UAE Armed Forces on Monday the martyrs are Mohammed Obaid Salem Al Hammudi based in Diba Al Hisn in the emirate of Sharjah and Zayed Ali Al Kaabi from Mebreh area in Fujairah.

Sultan Al Adb uncle of martyr Mohammed told Khaleej Times late on Monday that the unmarried 25-year-old martyr was a highly dedicated serviceman. "Flying officer Mohammed was the fourth of 10 siblings who were all known for their loyalty and devotion to their country and nation" he said.

The martyr was decent and kind he added noting that "he was obedient to his parents and siblings and was always ready to offer a hand to anyone in need of help."

Sultan said his nephew was keen to participate in the operation in Yemen to support right justice and legitimacy. "He was in constant contact with his family and talked to his parents on Sunday" he said.

The uncle said the entire family is honoured to have a martyr as a member. "It is really an honour to us all to sacrifice our lives for our beloved country and show full obedience and trust in our prudent leadership."

The martyr was an easy-goingyoung man Sultan said. "He was a football player and spent most of his free time in camping and visiting friends and family."

The martyr's participation in the operations in Yemen was the most significant time for him since he joined the UAE Armed Forces.

He added that the martyr was kind and helpful to everyone he encountered.

"He was so well-mannered cooperative and he showed leadership by nature though he was still young" he said.

The Saudi state news agency SPA reported that the aircraft - a Mirage - crashed because of a 'technical fault'.

The General Command extended sincere condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed to Allah Almighty to bless their souls with mercy in Paradise.

Reuters reported the aircraft was lost in Aden and quotes Hani Al Yazidi director of the Buraiqa district in northern Aden as saying that local authorities found the wreckage of the plane after it crashed into a mountain. Security officials and witnesses in Aden told AFP that a jet had crashed into a nearby mountain on Monday as coalition warplanes operated in the vicinity after clashes erupted between Yemeni forces and terrorists.

The incident marks the first time a UAE combat aircraft has been lost while on operations in support of the coalition's efforts to restore President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power in Yemen.

In December a Bahraini F-16 aircraft crashed in Saudi Arabia because of a 'technical error' and the pilot was saved.

Earlier in May a Moroccan aircraft went down in Yemen leading to the death of its pilot. While the Houthi rebels claimed the aircraft had been shot down the coalition said the incident occurred because of human error or a technical fault.

Over the course of the last week coalition aircraft have been operating in and around Aden where Yemeni government forces have been battling elements of Al Qaeda and Daesh. On Sunday at least 18 people were killed in overnight fighting in Buraiqa.

Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have taken advantage of the conflict between Iran-backed insurgents and pro-government forces to reinforce their presence in the south including in Aden.

A government official told AFP that a coalition jet had carried out an air raid against the home of a local Daesh commander at dawn killing his 18-year-old son near the plane crash site.

Apache helicopters were also taking part in the fighting on Monday security officials said.

"We saw Apache helicopters fire rockets and open machine gunfire at Al-Qaeda militants" in Aden's Mansura district one witness said.

Security sources estimate that around 300 heavily armed Al Qaeda fighters are entrenched in Mansura.

Ahmed Shaaban Master's degree in Mass Media with 19 year experience in media and translation