Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition of Sunni regional countries, began airstrikes against Shiite rebel forces in Yemen, an attempt to halt the fighters' advance through the Arab nation.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are considering a land offensive as regional Shiite power, Iran, objects to the bombings.

Saudi jets began bombing rebel positions in Yemen on Wednesday, according to the Washington Post, in response to their continued push to oust the Western-backed president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition that includes Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. The latter two countries have expressed they will support the effort to quell the rebels, known as Houthis, and it is believed they have sent military aircraft.

According to The Associated Press, Egypt is currently considering sending troops into Yemen to battle the Houthis along with Saudi troops, an unnamed Egyptian official said. The land assault will happen possibly after airstrikes have softened most of the Houthi forces.

Iran and the Houthi rebels have condemned the coalition actions. Rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi called the attack "criminal, unjust, brutal and sinful."

"Yemenis won't accept such humiliation," he said.

Similarly, Iran "considers this action a dangerous step," according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham. "This invasion will bear no result but expansion of terrorism and extremism throughout the whole region."

President Hadi, who fled the capital Sanaa as the Houthis advanced, has left the port of Aden for the Saudi capital, according to Reuters. Saudi state television confirmed President Hadi arrived in Riyadh.

Saudi state news agencies are reporting that 100 Saudi aircrafts are partaking in Operation "Storm of Resolve" along with 85 warplanes from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki reasserted the U.S. support for Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia's actions, calling the kingdom's security concerns "legitimate."

The AP adds that President Barack Obama had authorized logistical and intelligence support for the Sunni coalitions' strikes, said White House spokesman Eric Schultz.