VOA慢速英语2016 阿联酋:也门战争“几近”结束（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2016-06-17 UAE: War in Yemen 'Practically' Over 阿联酋:也门战争“几近”结束

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) says its troops are ending their involvement in the war in Yemen.

The UAE is a major ally of Saudi Arabia and part of the Saudi-led coalition force in Yemen. The coalition has been fighting Iran-supported rebels for over a year.

An Arabic language version of the UAE statement said the war in Yemen is only “practically” over.

The statement came from the state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi repeated the message on social media. Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan also serves as deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces.

The statement read: “Our standpoint today is clear: war is over for our troops; we’re monitoring political arrangements, empowering Yemenis in liberated areas.”

Coalition forces and forces loyal to Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi have pushed Houthi rebels out of Yemen’s southern cities. The rebels still control most of the northern and central highlands and the Red Sea coast.

The Saudi-led coalition is made up mainly of troops from Gulf nations. They had been launching airstrikes against the rebels since March of 2015. The United States has been providing support to the coalition.

阿拉伯联合酋长国（简称阿联酋）称，其军队正在退出也门战争。阿联酋既是沙特阿拉伯的重要联盟，也是阿拉伯在也门联军的重要力量。该联军已经与伊朗支持的反叛分子进行了长达一年多的斗争。阿联酋以阿拉伯语发布的官方声明称，也门之战只是口头上的结束。该官方声明由阿联酋外交部部长发布。

阿布扎比酋长国王子在社交媒体上重复发布了此信息。王子哈扎·本·苏丹·阿尔·纳哈扬兼任阿联酋武装力量的最高副指挥官。声明中说道，“我们今天想表达的观点很清晰：军队目前结束战争了，但是我们还在监察政治情况，加强也门自由地区的实力。”效忠也门国王的军事力量已经将也门南部多个城市的反叛分子逐出领地。不过反叛分子仍然控制着中央的大部分高地以及红海沿岸。阿拉伯联军主要由海湾成员国的军队构成。联军从2015年3月起就对反叛分子发动了空袭。而美国也一直对联军提供支持。

Words in This Story

practically - adv. almost or nearly

sheikh – n. an Arab chief, ruler or prince

standpoint – n. a way in which something is thought about or considered

empower – v. to give power to someone