A number of top Houthi military commanders were killed on Thursday after Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in Yemen, the Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

Abdel Khalik Al-Houthi, Yousef al-Madani and Youssel al-Fishi were killed in a series of airstrikes conducted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE late Wednesday.

The military operation aims to counter Houthi militia forces who have besieged the southern city of Aden where the country's president had taken refuge.

The militants took over the capital of Sanaa earlier this year, prompting President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to resign and declaring their ascent to power in the coup.

Hadi rescinded his resignation when he fled to Aden where his compound came under aerial bombardment in recent days by unidentified warplanes.

[Developing story]