Sultan Mohammed Ali al-Kitbi (1970, United Arab Emirates—14 December 2015, Taiz, Yemen) was a colonel of the United Arab Emirates Army who became one of the most senior officers killed during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war. He was also the highest ranking UAE officer to have been killed.[1] In his legacy, the standard issue of the UAE armed forces rifle, the CAR 816, is named Caracal Sultan and bears an engraving honoring him.[2]
Sultan Mohammed Ali al-Kitbi | |
|---|---|
| Native name | سلطان محمد علي الكتبي |
| Birth name | Mohammed Ali al-Kitbi |
| Born | 1970 |
| Died | 14 December 2015 (aged 45) Taiz, Yemen |
| Allegiance |  United Arab Emirates |
| Service | United Arab Emirates Army |
| Years of service | 1990s—2015 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles / wars | Yemeni Civil War (Saudi intervention) |
Biography
editMohammed Ali al-Kitbi was born around 1970 in the United Arab Emirates and served in its armed forces since the 1990s, including as part of peacekeeping missions in Somalia and Kosovo.[3]
During the Saudi Arabian-led coalition's intervention in the Yemeni civil war, Al-Kitbi took part in Operation Restoring Hope and was involved in the fighting to capture the city of Taiz, in southern Yemen. He was killed in a rocket attack by Houthi rebels on Monday, 14 December 2015, near Taiz along with Saudi Arabian colonel Abdullah al-Sahian. His body was later returned to the UAE.[1][3]
Al-Kitbi had seven children. His brother is a former member of the Federal National Council.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Two top Gulf commanders killed in Yemen rocket strike - sources. Reuters. Published 14 December 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ^ "Caracal renames rifle after UAE martyr". Gulf News. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Brother of UAE soldier: I wish we could have seen him one last time. 7 Days UAE. Published 15 December 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Archived 5 February 2016.
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