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Rabat- Morocco has reportedly joined Saudi Arabia in its aerial bombardment of the Houthi rebels in Yemen by deploying six fighter jets, Al Arabiya news channel reported.
The kingdom expressed “complete solidarity” to Saudi Arabia in its “Decisive Storm” military operation that started early Thursday targeting Houthi rebels, a Shia group supported by Iran, Al Arabiya said.
With the exception of Oman, members of the Gulf States joined the Saudi-led coalition. The UAE contributed with 30 fighter jets, Bahrain 15, Kuwait 15, and Qatar 10.
Non-Gulf states have also joined Saudi Arabia in its attempt to repel Houthi militias. Jordan deployed six fighter jets while Sudan supplied three.
Al Arabiya said Egypt and Pakistan would also dispatch jet fighters and warships to take part in the military campaign.
Saudi Arabia, which accuses Iran of providing support to the Houti rebels, reportedly deployed 150,000 soldiers, 100 fighter jets and navy units in Yemen after the internationally recognized Yemeni government appealed to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) earlier this week to intervene in Yemen.
According to Al Arabiya News Channel, the Royal Saudi Air Force took control over Yemen’s airspace early Thursday, and destroyed four Houthi jets and surface-to-air- (SAM) missiles.
In addition to Arab states, US President Barack Obama authorized the provision of logistical and intelligence support to the campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The same source added that members of the Houthi militias’ high command were killed during the Saudi-led military campaign.
The announcement of “Decisive Storm” was made on Wednesday evening by Abdel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, who said that the military operations started at 7 pm EST time.
The Saudi diplomat added other countries are joining forces with his country to “repel the Houthis, protect and defend the legitimate government” of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
