Malaysia has denied its alleged involvement in a 12-country coalition led by Saudi Arabia to fight Houthis in Yemen, despite the presence of its forces in the country.

A Malaysian defense ministry official told reporters on Tuesday that the military force is solely in Yemen to assist in the evacuation of stranded Malaysian students, and those from other countries.

Press reports on this score are false, he said. The troops were only there to assist in humanitarian and evacuation missions, as there were still Malaysian students there, he added.