Both are correct. The force is created by the reaction/repulsion of the forces being applied from the exhaust of the engine.
The action (cause): Expell a mass of compressed and heated air to push against another mass. The air behind the engine, and the engine itself.
This does apply force produced by the expansion of the air at the nozzle, and the repulsion of the air behind the engines. Imagine a balloon being inflated between two masses. It applies equal push force in both directions.
The reaction: Repulsion of the pushed air, and the pusher (the jet engine)
This is a simplified model still since it does not take into consideration the pull force the engine applies to the air at the intake.
At the end of the day you are talking about a controlled explosion of rapid expansion, in the case of a commercial jet, applying push in two directions (assuming you are in a working mass like the atmosphere).