DOHA: A Qatari soldier serving with the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has been killed, Qatar’s first fatality of the conflict, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.

“We congratulate ourselves and our nation for the martyrdom of a son of our homeland in Yemen,” Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah announced on Twitter.

“May God accept him in the highest heavens and bestow patience and solace on his family.”

The death was later confirmed by state media, who named the soldier as Mohammed Hamid Suleiman.

“Qatar armed forces announced the death of Mohammed Hamid Suleiman... on duty with the Arab coalition forces participating in the operation of restoring hope in the Republic of Yemen,” reported the Qatar News Agency.

No further details were provided about the soldier or of the circumstances of his death.

There have been no previous deaths reported among the Qatari force though two soldiers had previously been injured, said officials.

Qatar sent 1,000 troops into Yemen in September as part of the Arab coalition battling Shiite rebels. The country’s air force has taken part in the aerial campaign which began in March this year.

Most of the Qatari troops in Yemen are thought to be stationed close to the border with Saudi Arabia.