Yemeni civilians and security forces stand at the site of Saudi Arabian air strikes against Houthi rebels near Sanaa Airport on March 26, 2015 in Yemen. Saudi warplanes launched the attack against the Houthi rebels to slow their advance thoughout the country. Monday, the Gulf nation of Qatar has reportedly deployed 1,000 troops to Yemen to join the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi. Photo by Mohammad Abdullah/UPI | License Photo

DOHA, Qatar, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Some 1,000 troops from Qatar were deployed to Yemen Monday to join the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi.

The Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television reported the troops, backed by 200 armored vehicles, 30 Apache helicopters, missiles and missile launchers, were headed to Yemen's Maareb province. The Doha-backed news agency said more Qatari forces were expected to follow.


The news comes after 45 soldiers from the United Arab Emirates and 10 Saudi troops were killed in Marib on Friday. It was the largest single loss of life in the Saudi-led coalition since it began its attack against the Houthis in March.

The coalition said it is aiming at taking back Sanaa from the Houthis, thought to be backed by regional rival Iran. Airstrikes continued Monday in Sanaa, hitting a military aviation college.