King Hamad says Martyrs’ Day will be observed to honour the memory of soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice

‹›Published: 14:40 September 6, 2015

Manama: Bahrainis paid rich tributes to the bravery and dedication of their fallen heroes as they buried them in highly emotional funerals.

Five Bahrainis were among the soldiers killed in Yemen on Friday while serving with the Saudi Arabia-led coalition to restore legitimacy in the country.

Thousands of people gathered early in the morning in cemeteries in Muharraq, the country’s second largest city, and in Riffa, south of Manama, to take part in funeral ceremonies and to offer condolences to bereaved families and grieving communities.

Senior officers from the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) were prominent among mourners who braved the heat to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers.

The official television channel and social media helped keep those who could not attend the funerals updated and allowed them to express their feelings over the tragic deaths.

In cables of condolences to the families of the martyrs, King Hamad said that a Martyr’s Day would be declared in their memory.

“The martyrs will remain embossed in the indelible memory of the nation as symbols of fraternal Arab solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,” King Hamad said in the cables.

Bahrain Television interrupted its regular programmes and switched to patriotic songs and interviews with high-profile figures, including lawmakers, academics and imams, about the significance of the commitment to defend the nation.