DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's navy began an operation to evacuate dozens of Saudi and foreign diplomats from the southern Yemeni port city of Aden, state television reported on Saturday.

“The Saudi Royal Navy implemented an operation called Hurricane to evacuate dozens of diplomats, including Saudis, from Aden,” a news ticker on the state news broadcaster read.

Yemen's Houthi rebels made broad gains in the country's south and east on Friday despite a second day of Saudi-led air strikes meant to check the Iranian-backed militia's efforts to overthrow President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Shia Muslim Houthi fighters and allied army units gained their first foothold on Yemen's Arabian Sea coast by seizing the port of Shaqra 100km (60 miles) east of Aden, residents told Reuters.

Know more: Saudi-led coalition attacks Yemen’s Houthi militants

Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition bombed Shia Houthi militants in Yemen on Thursday in support of Yemen’s embattled president, as Iran warned the intervention was “dangerous”.

Houthi advance raised Saudi fears the Shia minority fighters would seize control of the whole of its Sunni-majority neighbour and take it into the orbit of regional rival Iran.

Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television had said the kingdom had deployed 100 fighter jets for the operation, while the United Arab Emirates had committed 30, Kuwait 15 and Qatar 10. Bahrain said it had committed 12 fighters.

The channel had said Saudi Arabia had also mobilised 150,000 troops near the border, while all civilian flights were halted at seven Saudi airports in the border region.

Dozens of people have been killed as the Houthis backed by troops allied to Mr Saleh have clashed with pro-Hadi forces in their drive southwards.

Yemen has been gripped by growing turmoil since the Houthis launched a power takeover in Sanaa in February.