AFP - Saudi King Abdullah flew on Wednesday to the southern province of Jizan, where Saudi forces have been battling Yemen's Huthi rebels for four weeks, the government announced.

He was going on an "inspection visit," according to the announcement on the state news agency SPA.

It is the king's first visit to the area since Saudi forces began shelling the Zaidi Shiite militants along the rugged border with northwest Yemen in early November.

The Saudi military undertook its largest mobilisation since the 1990-91 Gulf War following a minor border incursion by the Huthis, deploying fighter bombers, heavy artillery, special forces and naval vessels against the rebels.

The Saudis say they are acting to prevent the Huthis and other threats from crossing into Saudi territory, after a band killed a Saudi border guard and temporarily occupied two Jizan villages on November 3.

The Saudis have evacuated thousands from the border and want to establish a broad no-go zone on either side of the porous frontier to stop both militants and smugglers from crossing.

Analysts say the Saudis are also closely assisting Yemen's government in its effort to crush the rebellion.

Saudi-owned regional daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Wednesday that Saudi bombers and artillery continued to hit Huthi positions this week and that ground troops using Bradley armoured vehicles were patrolling the region to search for Huthi fighters.