MARIB — Yemen's Defence Ministry said soldiers in Marib who have not been paid since December will receive their overdue salaries by Eid al-Adha, which falls in late May. The ministry attributed the salary arrears to financial constraints, including liquidity shortages, declining resources and complications in salary distribution. It also said disparities in payments stem from issues outside the official budget and that efforts are under way to improve salary disbursement.

Yemeni army personnel earn between 60,000 and 180,000 Yemeni riyals per month, roughly $38 to $116. The army receives a budget of about 36 billion riyals each month, about $23.2 million. The value of the riyal has decreased, putting pressure on soldiers even when they are paid.

Military affairs analyst Iyad al-Masqari said the situation could compel soldiers to join irregular military formations such as the Security Belts, where payments are more regular, potentially leaving the army with a shortage of experienced fighters. Economic expert Mohammed al-Jamaei said salary delays point to deeper problems within the army regarding resource distribution and are forcing soldiers to seek alternative income, potentially impacting discipline within the ranks.

The regular Yemeni army size is between 180,000 and 220,000 personnel, according to a military source, with 30 to 40 percent serving on front lines and the remainder in support roles or on guard duty. The government has been fighting Houthi rebels since 2014, after the rebels took over Sanaa and forced the internationally recognized government to relocate to Aden.

Both government forces and Houthi rebels have targeted each other's main sources of revenue, reducing cash available for both sides and hindering their ability to pay government salaries and fund basic services in areas under their control. Traders in Marib, Aden, Taiz and other government-controlled areas rely on soldiers spending their salaries in local shops and markets, and late wage payments have coincided with slower economic activity in those areas.

Unemployment in Yemen is high, and the country is experiencing a humanitarian crisis as a result of its ongoing war.