Saudi Arabia bombs Yemeni rebels

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia bombed rebels in Yemen Thursday, a day after a Saudi soldier was killed by "infiltrators," officials said.

The air raids were aimed at Houthi rebels, a group trying to oust the Yemeni government, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Houthi are Shiite Muslims and do not have ties to al-Qaida, the newspaper said.

Saudi Arabia has one of the most modern militaries in the Middle East, but one that is seldom used. The air raids were a rare instance of Saudi military action.

Residents of Jizan, a Saudi town about 50 miles from the border, told the Journal they saw planes flying south throughout the day and infantry moving toward Yemen.

Saudi Arabia supports the government of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Yemen launched a major offensive against the Houthi rebels this summer, dubbed Operation Scorched Earth.