UAE soldier dies two years after Yemen attack
Family and friends of First Sgt Naser Gharib Al Mazrouei gathered yesterday to pay tribute to the father, son and friend who died two years after sustaining injuries while on duty in Yemen.
Al Mazrouei was injured in September 2015 when a rocket attack on an ammunition store for the 107th Brigade caused several explosions that resulted in the deaths of about 50 Emirati soldiers.
The 31-year-old from Sharjah had been in a coma since and was being treated for severe brain injuries at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
He was the second soldier to die yesterday after the General Command of the Armed Forces said that an Emirati pilot died when his plane crashed in Yemen. Second Lt Sultan Mohamed Ali Al Naqbi was killed when the aircraft crashed because of a technical failure.
Al Mazrouei’s sister said the family had been living in hope that he would wake to see his two children again.
“We prayed for him each day for the past two years, we prayed and hoped that he would wake up and come back home to his family and kids, but he didn’t,” said Latifa Al Mazrouei, 27.
“We were planning to go and visit him today but instead he came to visit us. Losing him is very painful but he has been relieved from the pain and is now in good hands.”
She said the family received a call in the early hours yesterday with the news and her father was the first to know. “They called my father at 3.30am and he took the news with great pride, then he told my mother and she informed us all.
“I haven’t slept since last night – nobody did. His sacrifice will not be forgotten and he will be missed.”
Al Mazrouei leaves behind a wife and two children – daughter Jory, 4, and son Hamad, 2 – in addition to four brothers and four sisters.
“His daughter Jory used to try to wake him up when she visited him at the hospital and then cry,” Ms Al Mazrouei said.
“When they grow up they will understand their father’s sacrifice and his love for the country
and they will feel proud and honoured.”
Al Mazrouei’s aunt, Moudi Al Shageh, said the family was in disbelief.
“We can’t imagine that he will not return home. He was kind to all of us and especially to his parents. We will miss his jokes and smile,” the 32-year-old said.
“We were almost the same age and he was my best friend. His dream was to join the Armed Forces and he joined them straight after finishing high school.
“His mother used to visit him every Friday and I used to go whenever I could. It was not easy to see him in such a situation, but we prayed for him day and night. We will miss him a lot, but he will always be remembered.”
Funeral prayers were held at Sayid Al Shohada mosque in Kalba after Al Asr prayers yesterday and he was buried at Kalba Cemetery.