Jordan said attacks on rebels are to uphold security and stability in highly strategic region

Saudi Arabia and allies launched military operations including airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday, officials said, to counter Iran-allied forces besieging the southern city of Aden, where the US-backed Yemeni president had taken refuge.

Gulf broadcaster al-Arabiya TV reported that the kingdom was contributing as many as 150,000 troops and 100 warplanes to the operations. Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan were ready to take part in a ground offensive in Yemen, it said.