Riyadh : Saudi Arabia deployed 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and other navy units on Thursday, after it launched operation against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
The Saudi aerial deployment enabled the Royal Saudi Air Force to take control of Yemen’s airspace early Thursday.
Reports also emerged that top Houthi leadership Abdulkhaliq al-Houthi, Yousef al-Madani, and Yousef al-Fishi were killed, and head of the Revolutionary Committee for the Houthis, Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, was wounded.
Saudi allies including its Gulf counterparts, except Oman, also showcased their military power to curb Houthi rebels from reaching Aden to dislodge Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi who remained in the southern city.
The UAE contributed 30 fighter jets, Bahrain 15, Kuwaiti 15, Qatar 10 and Jordan 6 in the operation.
On Thursday, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan and Sudan also expressed their readiness to participate on the ground in Yemen.
The Syrian National Coalition opposition group said it backed the Saudi operation and voiced its support to Hadi as Yemen’s “legitimate” leader.
The campaign has also received the backing of the U.S.
The White House on Wednesday said Washington is coordinating closely with Saudi Arabia and regional allies in the campaign, providing intelligence and logistical support.