The deaths were announced in a statement published by the Emirati state news agency WAM, without detailing the time or location the soldiers were killed.

The United Arab Emirates has been playing a key role in the Saudi-led military campaign to back President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government after Huthi rebels forced him into exile.

On Wednesday they launched an offensive to retake the port city of Hodeida from the Iran-allied Shiite rebels.

More than 100 Emirati soldiers have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led intervention there began in March 2015.

Overall, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the alliance launched the intervention, contributing to what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.