Manama, March 27 (IANS): Twelve fighter jets of the Royal Bahraini Air Force are participating in the 'Operation Decisive Storm', a joint Gulf Arab nations' operation against the Shia Houthi group in crisis-hit Yemen, a media report said Thursday.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain ordered participation of the Bahraini air force in response to a call from Saudi Arabai's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to meet the request of the legitimate authority in Yemen, Saudi Press Agency reported citing an official source from the Bahrain Defence Force.

The source also said the move was within the framework of the existing GCC Joint Defence Pact, and as part of the collective commitment of the member states to protect their national security.

The step also reflects Bahrain's full-fledged support to the measures the GCC countries deem decisive against anything that poses a threat to the regional stability, the official pointed out.