Jordan rules out deploying troops in Yemen

King Abdullah II of Jordan has said that his country will not join a ground offensive in Yemen, although the kingdom remains part of the Saudi-led military coalition intervening in the war-torn Arab country, Efe news agency reported.

"There is no procedure from the Jordanian armed forces to get involved in any ground offensive into Yemen," the king said in a joint press conference on Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel following talks in Berlin.

King Abdullah explained that Jordan's purpose in the mission was to ensure the security of Saudi Arabia.

On her part, Merkel said it would be "difficult" for the current conflict in Yemen to be resolved exclusively by military means.

The Saudi-led coalition has been targeting Houthi Shia positions in Yemen since March 26, while tensions continue to rise despite the five-day humanitarian ceasefire that went into effect on Tuesday night.