Even as the bravehearts in uniform were laid to rest in the Kingdom, UAE and Bahrain, the determination to make the coalition that much stronger was clear within 24 hours of the Maarib blast. While the loss of life was the worst in the six-month war against Houthi rebels the grief was marked by resolve that the offensive must be continued without break.

We salute those who give up their todays so we can have our tomorrows. Soldiers who stand tall have given up their lives for their country. One can only silently understand the mix of grief and pride that comes with these losses of life.

These men volunteered to serve their country without reservation. They took their orders without question, they never asked the reasons, they did what was demanded of them.

It is never easy to lose young sons and husbands and brothers in battle. The Last Post will play for these officers and gentlemen to the core and we will stand in bowed silence and yet stand tall and be assured they will not be forgotten.

The aerial pounding on Sunday of the rebel strongholds is only the beginning. All the leaders of the nations in the coalition have spoken with one voice and the intent is clear. The Houthis have to be pushed out of the cities and placed with no alternative but to accept unconditionally the UN Security Council’s resolution 2216 calling for all those undermining the stability of Yemen and demanding the Houthis lay down their arms and withdraw from areas that they have occupied.

The Maarib missile attack will be seen as a turning point in this war because there can now be no option but to press on, ratchet up the pressure and corner the Houthis until they capitulate.

The stability of the region is paramount and the coalition is well aware that some sacrifices will have to be made to reach the final objective.

In the adversity of the moment the one comfort is the heightened sense of togetherness and the belief that the battle is being engaged in for the right reasons.

It has to be placed on record that the coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia have been restrained and kept uppermost in mind the safety of the civilian population, often, one is sure, modifying strategies or holding back military initiatives so that civilians are not caught in the crossfire. Not just that but ample opportunities have been given to the Houthi leadership to end the mindless carnage and sit at the negotiating table but only after they have disarmed.

It is sad indeed that even the offers for truce — so that medical supplies and provisions could be sent in to aid a beleaguered populace — were rejected. The Houthis have displayed no such considerations and have, in fact, used urban enclaves as their defense shield, placing civilians at risk of their lives.

It is with reluctance and because there is no other alternative that the armed option has to be exercised and to ensure the safety of its troops the coalition has to escalate its tactical operations and send out a clear and transparent message that it has not been derailed from any of its objectives.

On the contrary, the conflict has been given a new dimension in which there is no letting up till the country is free of Iran-backed rebels.