Qatar announces first soldier death in Yemen

A Qatari soldier serving with the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has been killed, Qatar's first fatality of the conflict, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.

"We congratulate ourselves and our nation for the martyrdom of a son of our homeland in Yemen," Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah announced on Twitter.

"May God accept him in the highest heavens and bestow patience and solace on his family."

The death was later confirmed by state media, who named the soldier as Mohammed Hamid Suleiman.

"Qatar armed forces announced the death of Mohammed Hamid Suleiman... on duty with the Arab coalition forces participating in the operation of restoring hope in the Republic of Yemen," reported the Qatar News Agency.

No further details were provided.

Qatar sent 1,000 troops into Yemen in September as part of the Arab coalition battling rebels.

The country's air force has taken part in the aerial campaign which began in March this year after rebel advances forced Yemen's president to flee to Riyadh.

In addition to Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan have also sent troops to Yemen.

 

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