Yemeni Soldiers Wait for Wages Amid Economic Collapse

At a military barracks outside the city of Marib in western Yemen, soldier Suleiman al-Hajj sits with two comrades in a bare room where they spend most of their duty time. His face shows worry as he constantly calls and texts to borrow money, because army salaries continue to be delayed.

This is a recurring problem in the armed forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The hardships of the battlefield merge with daily life, severely impacting the military's performance.

According to an unnamed military source, Yemeni soldiers receive between 60,000 and 180,000 riyals per month, equivalent to $38 to $116. The regular army numbers between 180,000 and 220,000 personnel, but only 30 to 40 percent of them fight on the front lines; the rest serve in support or guard roles.

The Defense Ministry allocates a monthly budget of about 36 billion riyals ($23.2 million), of which 17 billion riyals goes to the 4th Military District based in Aden—a city under government control after about six years under southern separatist forces.

An officer revealed that his soldiers last received pay in December of last year, although the government promised to settle salary arrears before the Eid al-Adha holiday (end of May). He said: "We are soldiers of the state, and we only know that the government, the Defense Ministry, and the General Staff are responsible for ensuring wages. Despite the difficulties, we remain at our posts and fulfill our duties."

The Yemeni government has relied on the military to fight Houthi rebels since 2014, when the group captured the capital Sanaa, forcing the government to relocate to Aden. The war has left both sides in financial crisis as they repeatedly target each other's main revenue sources, leaving them unable to pay salaries and maintain basic services in their controlled areas.

In addition to the regular army, government-held areas host numerous irregular armed groups such as the Security Belts, Elite Forces, Giants Brigades, and the National Resistance, totaling around 120,000–150,000 personnel. These units operate outside the Defense and Interior Ministries and are reportedly better and more regularly paid, with salaries up to $320 per month.

Military analyst Iyad al-Masqari said salary arrears could force soldiers to join irregular forces for income stability, draining the army of experienced fighters. Economist Mohammed al-Jamaei argued that the payment delays reflect resource allocation problems within the military, pushing soldiers to seek other income sources and potentially undermining discipline.

Yemen is experiencing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. High unemployment and a sharp devaluation of the riyal compound the pressure on soldiers even when they are paid. Merchants in Marib, Aden, and Taiz depend on soldiers' spending in local markets, and delays in pay slow economic activity in these cities.

The Yemeni Defense Ministry has blamed salary arrears on financial difficulties, liquidity shortages, declining revenues, and distribution complexities. The ministry says it is working to improve the situation, but so far soldiers in Marib and other front-line cities remain fighting on two fronts: against the enemy and against poverty.