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Sheikh Mohammed at the ceremony to welcome home the troops from Yemen. (Supplied)
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has said that the UAE is a nation of peace which never hesitates to establish and promote the causes of peace, and consolidate the foundations for preserving and perpetuating it.
In a statement entitled 'The Emirates of Peace', which was released today as a tribute to the UAE Armed Forces who returned home after fulfilling their national duty, as part of the Saudi-lead Arab Coalition forces participating in Operation Restoring Hope to defend the legitimate government in Yemen, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said, "The honorable performance of our Armed Forces in the battlefield and their effective contribution towards the victories of the Arab Coalition in Yemen are the best proof that our soldiers maintain high defence and combat readiness, which ensures that our country possesses a shield that protects its soil and a sword that guarantees its security and the safety of it people."
The statement in full is below:
The Emirates of Peace
Peace be on the late Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid and their brothers who vowed to the world that they will keep the flag of peace flying high.
Peace be on our heroes who returned home triumphant and on their brothers who stand sentinel and steadfast.
Peace be on their brothers who will joint the battlefield of honour, dignity where they defend and proponents of rights.
We are a nation of peace and we never hesitate to establish and promote the causes of peace, consolidate the foundations for preserving and perpetuating it.
We defend the values of justice, rightness and goodness, provide relief for whoever is in distress and go to the front line to help the oppressed wherever they are.
We have wielded arms only against oppression, injustice and tyranny and the forces of evil which had ill intentions against us, plan to damage our present, usurp our right to build our future that we want to be full of hope, work, well-being and growth.
The honourable performance of our Armed Forces in the battlefield and their effective contribution towards the victories of the Arab Coalition in Yemen are the best proof that our soldiers maintain high defense and combat readiness, which ensures that our country possesses a shield that protects its soil and a sword that guarantees its security and the safety of it people.
To our returning soldiers we say: You lived up to the expectations of your people, and your heroic acts, you proved to the whole world that the United Arab Emirates never hesitates to fulfill its duty towards its brothers, and that it never back away from our firm positions that we took for them because we strongly believe in the depth of our belonging to the Arab Nation and because we are fully committed to safeguarding the peace and stability of our region at all costs and sacrifices in which we take pride and by which we become more determined to stand out among nations.
Today, we encourage our brave sons who began their mission in the battlefield and plead them to continue to be united and brave, stand sentinel fearing no one but Allah as they defend rights.
We say to them: Be extremely brave in your fight against injustice and eliminate and uproot its causes. Defeat the transgressors and make the defeat as severe as you can. Spread the light of hope to conquer the darkness of evil and make hope replace despair.
Our hearts with you at all times. We pray for your safety until you return triumphant. We pray to Allah Almighty to protect you and enable your safe return.
Lions of the Peninsula
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, joined the nation in welcoming UAE soldiers returning from Yemen with a 25-verse poem, describing them as “lions of the Peninsula.”
“You are lions of the Peninsula. The protectors of the homeland and the den of the Arabs. You have given the enemy a glass of destruction and made them feel sorry,” Sheikh Mohammed said in the poem titled 'The Conquerors'.
“They have sacrificed their souls to their country in a glorious mission that was crowned with success. They have fought to support their brothers. They have made history and given lessons in sacrifice so the others will learn. They have written with their blood glorious words in our homeland’s notebook. The enemy has regretted their bad deeds.
“You have served your country with sacrifices oh our glorious soldiers who are not scared of death. You have offered your blood and souls for the sake of championing right and the nation. It is a battle of right and duty against evil and those who side with the Devil will lose because right always wins.
“We have given them (Yemeni coup rebels) advice but they did not care. These Houthi groups do not know the meaning of loyalty. They are criminals who believe that they could be heroes by killing children. We have now cut off their hands and they have suffered defeats and shocks.
“I tell our heroic soldiers.... You are the lions of the Arabian Peninsula, the protectors of the nation. Your country is celebrating the victory today and our deeds are speaking. The country’s leaders and people pledge to you to stick to the charters of honor, on top of whom is (His Highness President) Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the gallant and noble leader, the protector of the homeland. Today our flags are flying high in the sky and the UAE is in a festival.”
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