(VOVworld) - As many as 800 Egyptian soldiers arrived in Yemen late on Tuesday, swelling the ranks of a Gulf Arab military contingent which aims to rout the Houthi rebel group.

Military vehicles carrying Gulf Arab soldiers arrive at Yemen's northern province of Marib September 8, 2015. Reuters/Stringer

Egyptian security sources said it was the first deployment of ground troops there by Egypt. Yemeni officials put the number of foreign troops from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar at least around 2,000, while Qatari-owned Al Jazeera TV said at least 10,000 foreign soldiers had arrived.
They are part of a force preparing to eventually assault the capital, which the Houthis seized last year.