UAE troops' exchange carried out professionally to sustain momentum of military operations: Coalition spokesman

Abu Dhabi, 8th November, 2015 (WAM) - The exchange of UAE troops in Yemen underscores a high sense of professionalism required to sustain the momentum of the ongoing military operations, said Saudi Brigadier Ahmed Asiri, spokesman of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, adding that 70 percent of Yemen is now liberated and has come under the authority of the legitimate government. The first batch of the UAE Armed Forces yesterday arrived back in the UAE after participating in Operation Decisive Storm and Restoring Hope, carried out by the Saudi-led Arab coalition. The first batch of troops who saw action in Yemen returned to the UAE in line with the troop exchange policy, which saw the second batch of UAE Armed Forces' soldiers assuming their duties in Yemen. ''The Saudi-led Arab Coalition forces are advancing towards their key targets, which are ensuring security, stability of Yemen and reinstating the legitimate government, securing the southern borders with Saudi Arabia,'' Brigadier Asiri told Sky News Arabia yesterday. ''Day after day, governorates are being brought back under the state authority and the legitimate government,'' he added. On the operation in Taez, Yemen's third largest city, which has been going on since several weeks, Asiri said, ''The Coalition Forces have first won the battle of Marib and the focus is now on Taez, which is seeing daily fighting between the forces of the legitimate government, backed by the coalition air strikes, and the Houthi militia and forces loyal to the deposed president Saleh.'' ''The stage is set and the forces are ready to achieve victory soon in the southern city,'' he added, emphasising the coalition's continuous support to the legitimate government forces in Taez, either in the form of air strikes or intelligence that helps identify the locations of the rebels. The Coalition spokesman said that Iran is still backing the rebels, but stressed that the coalition is also imposing a sea embargo on regional waters and seaports to deny Iran or others any chance to deliver any military supplies to the Houthis and their allies. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395287678260.html